Communities in Lokoja threaten mass protest over poor road work
The residents have described the four contractors handling the construction work
Kogi State Map
Residents on Ganaja – Ganaja junction road in Lokoja, Kogi State, may embark on a peaceful demonstration to protest their unheeded calls for the revocation of the contract to rehabilitate the seven-kilometre road awarded since last year.
The grouse of the residents is the alleged loss of lives occasioned by frequent accidents caused by unnecessary diversions, excessive dust, blockage of routes without signs and slow pace of work.
The residents have described the four contractors handling the construction work as incompetent coupled with the care free attitude of the supervising ministry.
Mr Mathew Jakolo of 500 Unit said the seeming incompetence of the contractors handling the rehabilitation of the Lokoja — Ganaja road was a cause for a serious concern.
He lamented that it is unheard of for a 7km road to be shared among four contractors, yet no good work was done both in quantity and quality.
Other residents, who spoke to North Central Trust, said the delay and poor quality of work done so far is because the contractors are employing a manual process which has led to frequent loss of lives.
The Federal Controller of Works in the state, Engr Jimoh Kajogbola, worried by the threat, had convened a meeting of stakeholders where he urged communities to resist the temptation of embarking on a protest.
Kajogbola, who advised them to cooperate and support contractors handling various road construction and rehabilitation projects in their areas, also cautioned them to embrace dialogue in addressing issues in the execution of the projects.
A representative of the community, Mr Abdulrahim Okekenu, had appealed to the contractors to be spraying water on the road while work was in progress to avoid too much dust.
The spokesman of the contractors, Mr Ben Ikyo, had pledged to abide by the resolutions of the meeting, adding that efforts would be made to ensure timely completion of the rehabilitation work.
Acknowledging the snail speed of work, the state Commissioner for Works, Engineer Abubakar Ohere, has called on the federal government to order the contractors back to site.