Abuja building materials market road about to cave in– Traders raise alarm

Heavy duty vehicles which bring building materials into Abuja cross this bridge daily. Water has dug under the road immediately after the bridge thereby leaving the surface susceptible to collapse. As a result, the two-lane road has been reduced by half.When Daily Trust visited the place last Friday, timber traders were trying hard to prevent […]

Heavy duty vehicles which bring building materials into Abuja cross this bridge daily. Water has dug under the road immediately after the bridge thereby leaving the surface susceptible to collapse. As a result, the two-lane road has been reduced by half.
When Daily Trust visited the place last Friday, timber traders were trying hard to prevent mishap in the area. They stationed stones on top of the dugout part of the road so as to warn on-coming motorists.
Yet, being a narrow way, some motorists especially motorcycle riders would maneuver their ways through the stones in a bid to move fast.
The chairman of Dei Dei Timber Traders Association, Chief Peter Ezeadua narrated how it happened: “Last week, after the heavy downpour, nobody could cross this place.
“When we came out to go to the market, we saw this place completely submerged up to the height of about two meters above this bridge.
“Vehicles stopped both sides. It took about four hours for the water to subside. As we were crossing we found out that the two edges of the bridge had been washed away.
“On close observation, we found out that almost half of the road was washed. I mobilized my boys to barricade the bad section. If not for the barricade, vehicles could have fallen here.
“The danger we foresee is that the whole road will be cut off soon if no urgent attention is given to it.
“My appeal is to the FCT Administration and AMAC [Abuja Municipal Area Council] to come immediately and salvage this road so as to prevent more damages.
“Many houses were flooded that day. Landlords are fixing their houses. But the road, nobody cares because it’s government property. This has to be done to prevent loss of lives.”
Media aide to FCT Minister, Mr Nosike Ogbuenyi promised to make enquiries about the matter.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Abuja Markets Management Company, Mr Innocent Obiechina said his company was not aware of the incident.
He said having brought it to his notice, he would present it to concerned authorities stressing that provision of infrastructure is not within the company’s mandate.