Expedite work on Kaduna-Zaria highway
To say that travelling along the Kaduna-Zaria axis of the Kano-Abuja federal highway constitutes a daily nightmare for motorists understates the grievous problem. Indeed, a journey which normally takes five hours from Kano to Abuja now takes at least 9-10 hours. And even at that, one must be extremely lucky to escape the notorious Birnin-Yero […]
To say that travelling along the Kaduna-Zaria axis of the Kano-Abuja federal highway constitutes a daily nightmare for motorists understates the grievous problem. Indeed, a journey which normally takes five hours from Kano to Abuja now takes at least 9-10 hours. And even at that, one must be extremely lucky to escape the notorious Birnin-Yero trap. But those not so fortunate enough usually spend the whole day in the traffic gridlock.
It is common knowledge that the Kaduna-Zaria highway despite being the shortest among the three segments of the Kano-Abuja federal highway under reconstruction by Julius Berger has nevertheless become the most dangerous due to frequent deadly accidents and serious traffic gridlocks.
Sadly, no day passes without an issue of serious traffic hold-up or avoidable accident along that infamous corridor. More painful is the attitude of the management of the construction company who seem not to care about the ongoing logjam. It is not unusual for somebody going to Zaria or Kano or any other far northern state as the case may be, to take a detour through Jos road or via a barely passable and makeshift road that bursts out adjacent to the Jaji Cantonment.
It is worth noting that while similar constructions are being undertaken concurrently at Kaduna-Abuja and Kano-Zaria axis respectively on the same highway by the company, the traffic hold-up and accidents along those corridors do not in any way measure up to any scale in comparison to the Zaria-Kaduna notorious portion. Something must, therefore, be wrong along the line. But whatever may be the cause, the company must shoulder greater responsibility for this endless and deadly nightmare.
Worth recalling also is the fact that whereas both managers in charge of the Abuja-Kaduna and Kano-Zaria segments have graciously allowed smooth passage through the completed portions of the highway, which eases the traffic gridlock, the managers of the Zaria-Kaduna segment have so far vehemently refused to extend similar gesture to motorists despite all entreaties.
The government must, therefore, call the management of Julius Berger to order because the suffering is way beyond plastic limit. And as a matter of urgent national importance, those in charge of the Birnin Yero portion must be made to ease the ongoing suffering and avoidable death, which has lingered longer than tolerable to reduce the current economic losses arising from deadly accidents, traffic gridlocks and losses in precious man-hours. It is time serious action is taken to work on this road.
And enough should be enough on this matter.
Kabiru Tsakuwa writes from Kano