July 8, 2024
Agency report
Residents of FCT satellite towns are calling for immediate repairs of the deteriorating road infrastructure, citing severe hardships caused by the poor conditions.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, numerous residents shared their daily struggles with the road situation.
Mr Samuel Odey, a civil servant residing in the Nyanya-Mararaba axis, expressed concern over the situation.
“Every day, I face long commutes and damage to my vehicle. Just last week, I had to spend a significant amount on car repairs due to the potholes,” he lamented.
Odey noted that development should be inclusive, stating that projects carried out in the city centre should also be extended to the satellite towns.
Mrs Fatima Abdullahi, a shop owner, highlighted how the poor road conditions affect her business.
“Customers avoid coming here because the roads are so bad. It’s affecting my sales and livelihood,” she said.
Parents like Mrs Amina Bello are also worried about their children’s safety, urging that linking roads from these satellite cities be considered for urgent repairs.
“My kids have to navigate these bad roads to get to school. I’m constantly anxious until they return home,” she noted.
Bello urged the FCT administration to prioritise road repairs, noting that improved infrastructure will significantly enhance their quality of life.
Mr James Okafor, a taxi driver, shared his frustration about the impact on his livelihood.
“The bad roads are damaging my car and increasing my maintenance costs. It’s becoming harder to make a decent living,” he explained.
Mrs Chioma Eze, a civil servant, noted how the poor infrastructure affects her daily routine.
“I spend an extra hour in traffic every day because of the terrible road conditions. It’s exhausting and takes away valuable time from my family and work,” she said.
Eze added that with the start of the rainy season, movement has slowed, leading to significant delays and loss of man-hours on the roads.
A public affairs analyst, Mr Chris Alagbe, recommended that the government prioritise the repair of the most damaged roads to ensure safer and quicker travel.
Alagbe called for the implementation of a regular maintenance schedule to prevent the roads from deteriorating to such an extent in the future.
He stressed the need to upgrade drainage systems to prevent waterlogging and further road damage during the rainy season.
“We must engage the local community in planning and monitoring road projects to ensure transparency and address specific local concerns.
“The FCT administration should allocate more funds towards improving road infrastructure in satellite towns, recognising it as a critical factor in enhancing residents’ quality of life and economic activities,” he stated.
He also called for the development of better traffic management strategies to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow, particularly during peak hours and rainy seasons.
