Nasarawa govt, please take action on Mararaba chaotic traffic

The chaotic traffic situation experienced daily by motorists and commuters at Mararaba axis of the Abuja/Keffi highway is a worrisome phenomenon to put mildly. Due to the high cost of accommodation in Abuja capital city, majority of those who work as civil servants and in other organizations in Abuja have chosen to reside in Nasarawa […]

The chaotic traffic situation experienced daily by motorists and commuters at Mararaba axis of the Abuja/Keffi highway is a worrisome phenomenon to put mildly.

Due to the high cost of accommodation in Abuja capital city, majority of those who work as civil servants and in other organizations in Abuja have chosen to reside in Nasarawa localities such as Mararaba, Aso, New Karu, New Nyanya, Masaka and Auta Balefi, amongst others.

This has come with resultant explosion in the population of people residing in the aforementioned suburbs.

On daily basis, it is common sight to observe traffic gridlocks on that axis of the road especially in the early morning rush hours as well as in the evening hours after close of work.

This is so because, in the morning hours, the traffic moves in one direction as people head to Abuja city centre for their daily activities and return to their abode virtually at the same time.

The traffic gridlocks have been further compounded by the activities of road side traders operating within the vicinity of Mararaba Bus Stop (Under Bridge).

Traders who normally deal in second hand clothing, foot wares, detergents, phones, accessories, snacks, fruits and other edibles usually find the road side especially under the Mararaba pedestrian bridge as lucrative place to transact their businesses.

These roadside traders and hawkers who ply their trades by the road sides often obstruct free flow of traffic thus making commuters and motorists to spend long time in traffic.

It is in the light of the above that I use this medium to call on the Nasarawa State Government to take some urgent and drastic steps in addressing the activities of road side traders and hawkers operating at the Mararaba Bus Stop (Under Bridge).

No doubt, if the state government can set up a Special Traffic Task Force that would be stationed permanently by Mararaba Bus stop especially in the morning and evening rush hours, it would go a long way in addressing the chaotic traffic situation in that axis.

For instance, the traffic situation around Nyanya axis has improved significantly because of the combined efforts of men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Special Task Force who have been stationed there to ensure sanity.

If a similar modality can be adopted in Mararaba, it would go a long way in ensuring free flow of traffic and less stress for motorists.

Besides, another urgent reason the Mararaba Bus Stop should be sanitised and kept under close watch is in view of the criminal activities often perpetrated in the area by hoodlums.

Some hoodlums have cashed on the rowdy and chaotic nature of the Mararaba Bus Stop to rob unsuspecting members of the public especially commuters and motorists of valuables such as phones, laptops and money.

Many commuters who ply that axis have on several occasions had bitter encounters with these criminal elements operating on the spot.

I must commend Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for his efforts in the area of sanitation and environmental cleanliness around Mararaba and its environs as well as the opening up of some rural roads.

However, the perennial traffic gridlocks around the corridors of Mararaba and environs remain a big challenge the governor must urgently find solution to.

Even though, it is believed that the ongoing dualisation of the Abuja/Keffi Highway would help in addressing the challenge of traffic congestions in the long run when completed, there is need for the government to find a palliative measure pending when the work would be completed.

Onogwu Sule writes from Ado, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State