By Ibrahim Abdul’ Aziz, Regional Correspondent
As lives continued to lose due to accidents being recorded, motorists and residents of Adamawa State have condemned the Muhammadu Buhari led APC government for neglecting the Numan – Lafiya axis of the Yola – Gombe roads, now becomes a nightmare to commuters.
In the last three days, following a heavy downpour, several vehicles were trapped on the road with many accidents due to deplorable conditions.
In an interview with reporters, some motorists plying the road regrets that the contract for the rehabilitation of the Numan – Gombe section of the road which was awarded by the federal government since 2017, ‘’ is still dismal leaving motorists to grapple with hardship whenever they are on the road.’’
A motorist who simply identifies himself as Baba Saidu said, ‘’ for almost 20 years now, the portion of the road between Numan and Lafiya has been in a terrible mess and to a large extent has become un-motorable but despite the rot and the suffering people go through, the authorities never find it worthy for rehabilitation!
“This Numan – Gombe highway has suffered neglect in the past 20 years or so becoming a threat to the lives of motorists plying it despite the fact that Atiku Abubakar was the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.
” Contract for the rehabilitation was awarded sometime in 2005 but as we heard, former Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe State ensured that the Gombe axis of the road was rehabilitated.
” With the coming of APC government which paved the way for many people from Adamawa like the first lady, Aisha Buhari, SGF Boss Mustapha, FCT minister, Mohammed Musa Bello and others to become critical stakeholders, we thought this portion will also be repaired.
“But almost four years down the line, nothing has happened despite the fact that the Numan – Lafiya axis which is in complete ruins is not up to 40km while Gombe – Lafiya portion which is about 149 Km has been repaired.
” This negligence may cost APC its chances of winning the next presidential election in Adamawa State,” he noted.
Also corroborating, another commercial bus driver, Muhammad Sufi who said he shuttles to Kaduna, Kano, Abuja and even Lagos from Yola weekly regretted that the Numan – Lafiya road,’’ is one of the worst highways in the country.
” I can tell you with all sense of responsibility that this road ranks amongst the most dilapidated roads in the country.
“The distance between Numan and Lafiya is not quite 45 km but sometimes it takes one two solid hours to pass especially whenever it rains.
” Many vehicles are involved in accidents, many others breakdown while even men of the underworld take advantage of the bad situation to make the area their headquarters,” he said.
The commercial driver alleged that since the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of the road, less than five kilometers stretch has been tarred, ‘’ the bad situation only entails that Adamawa state political elites do not have the level of love for their people that will make them to ensure such important project is executed.’’
In the meantime, efforts to get the controller Federal Ministry of works proved abortive as he was said to have travelled so also the officials of the company handling the Numan-Gombe road projects.
Bridge Collapse
It could be recalled that last year collapse of a bridge at Lafiya Lamurde on the Yola-Gombe road left many passengers stranded.
Following the incident, Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, made an appeal to the federal government to find a solution to the problem.
Fintiri decried the deplorable condition of road and called on the government to revoke the contract and rearward same to a competent contractor for speedy completion of the project.
- Federal Government To Revive Adults, Almajiris Education - September 24, 2023
- Fraud : Pastor Deceived Me to Sell My Only House, Jilted Evangelist Tells Yola Court - February 5, 2021
- 2023 : Nigerians Will Vote Out APC – Gov Wike - February 4, 2021
