The unending frustration of Abuja commuters

Once it is the last week of November every year, heavy vehicular traffic would start reducing until the last and first week of December and preceding January. The Federal Capital Territory would be so ‘dry’ in movement of vehicles such that those who remain behind during the long holiday period would sort of wonder whether […]

Once it is the last week of November every year, heavy vehicular traffic would start reducing until the last and first week of December and preceding January. The Federal Capital Territory would be so ‘dry’ in movement of vehicles such that those who remain behind during the long holiday period would sort of wonder whether it is not this same Abuja that experiences really frustrating vehicular gridlock on a daily basis.
The commuters who face this mystery are those living in the Nyanya axis. In the absence of reliable statistics, one can hazard a guess that at least three-fifths of Abuja workforce live in that axis.  With February in its third week, commuters are in for a raw deal as far as getting to work and back are concerned. No matter how commuters plan to meet supposed appointments in the central area, the go-slow would always stand in the way. The road blocks – some have become traditional while others are temporarily set up – created by soldiers, police officers, road marshals, VIOs and task force members add to the frustration of commuters.
One thing that can be observed from the road blocks is the complaints by commuters that these road blocks are useless, rather they have become avenues to extort money from motorists by the security agents, especially the police. There’s no point expressing that, as the situation is legendary in the country now.
Surely, there are more commuters than available commercial coaches, buses and taxis. Even when private motorists augment the commercial ones, the transport demand cannot be met. The Transport Department of the FCT has not helped matters as it has not been able to deploy more vehicles to this particular route. This is in addition to the stoppage of the El-Rufai coaches from going pass Nyanya to masaka and even beyond in Karu local government area in Nasarawa State where there is a huge commuter population always.
The burden on the commuters would have reduced if the FCTA and the Nasarawa State Government had gone into joint projects to open up additional routes in that direction. For instance, it would be great if the two other routes being created are completed on time. All we have been hearing in the media are stories of promises that are never fulfilled.
If the FCT can spend the way it did with donating vehicles security agencies by accelerating work on the by-pass roads, the current suffering commuters go through daily would have been reduced. The government’s inaction is equally taking toll on man-hours and affecting the health of the people in a way. What this transport mystery means for commuters is also increased transport fare, and over time no attempt has been made to checkmate the excesses of non-El-Rufai commercial transporters who go the areas El-Rufai coaches do not cover.
There are also many daily hazards which are faced by Abuja-bound citizens. Recently, on TV, there was a news report of a particularly nasty auto crash involving an articulated truck and a passenger bus. Needless to say, many lives were snuffed out. Now all that woul have been avoided if particular steps have been taken.
In fact, Abuja commuters are just at the mercy of independent commercial motorists who increase fares at the slightest presence of go-slow. Given the bad situation, the FRSC marshals cannot control the situation as sometimes they just sit back and watch commercial motorcyclists drive on one way, thereby endangering lives.
In short, the FCT has demonstrated in efficiency in dealing and meeting the transport demand of the federal capital. Senator Bala Mohammed FCT Minister is rather more concerned with road projects whose immediate needs are not required. Nasarawa State government has not helped matter at all, as Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has apparently adopted a ‘siddon look’ stance, talking of opening up Mararaba, a project that has remained in a graveyard meant for white elephants. Since becoming governor in 2011, he’s been repeating it over and over again. He needs to do something about the situation, so that we Abuja-bound commuters can at least find some succour.
Yusuf wrote in from Mararaba, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State.