Like
many federal roads across the federation, the 40km Manchok-Vom Road,
connecting Manchok community in Kaduna State and Ganawuri, Vom and Jos
in Plateau State is a nightmare.
Interestingly
at the inauguration of the road four years ago, the former Minister of
Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, had claimed that the quality of road was of
standard that “can be compared with anyone in the world.”
It
was inaugurated by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The road which
is a major one connecting Kaduna and Plateau States is at the verge of
total collapse, causing untold hardship to commuters traveling to Jos
and Kaduna as well as communities in the area engaged in commercial
activities.
From
Manchok in Kaduna State to Vom in Plateau State, the road is dotted
with dangerous potholes that have caused many avoidable accidents that
resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
The
worst part of the road is in Danton Village in Ganawuri community,
Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, about 31 kilometres to
Jos.
This
particular portion of the road, about 100 metres, has become very
dreadful, impassable and requires urgent attention from the authorities.
Since it was constructed, it has been serving as the shortest route
from Kaduna to Jos. Other routes are the Kaduna – Saminaka -Jos routes
and Kaduna -Kagoro – Gidan Waya- Jos routes which are also in bad
condition and a journey from the two state capitals lasts for over four
hours as against the two and a half hours on the Kaduna – Manchok-Jos
route.
Signs
that the road would not last long started showing about two years after
its inauguration in 2013 as the 7.3 metres-wide asphalt concrete
started peeled off , giving way to unimaginable clay mud that no longer
make it motorable.
Several vehicles, especially trucks get stuck for several days before they are eventually pulled out.
Smaller
vehicles had no choice than to opt for the diversions (alternative
routes), constructed by youths within Danton Village and neighbouring
communities.
Although
the diversions also posed serious danger as vehicles frequently get
stuck, motorists and their passengers have no choice than to take risk.
Those
who don’t want to waste man hours on the bad road turn back to follow
through Kagoro – Gidan Waya to Jos, a journey lasting for about four
hours instead of two and half hours on the Manchok – Vom Road.
The
situation has created an opportunity for the youths to make brisk
business from motorists who ply the alternative routes they constructed.
They blocked the two diversions which are also almost as precarious as the impassible portion of the main road.
Many
vehicles often get stuck there too and the driver had to pay more money
for the boys to push it out. Before the boys opened the road for
motorists to passed, a token of between N200 and above must be paid.
The
amount of money you drop determines whether the boys will guide you as
you plunge your car into the mud and over a locally constructed bridge.
If
you drop much money they will enter the mud and guide you through and
in the event that you get stuck, they rally round and push your car out
of the mud.
Many
of the youths in the area seemed to have abandoned other things for
this “emergency road construction” as they hang around the roadside with
their shovels, hoes and other implements which they used from time to
time to make the diversions “motorable”.
When
the road was in a good condition, it takes just about 45 minutes from
Manchok to Vom, but with its terrible condition, it takes about two
hours.
Motorists
who spoke to THISDAY in an interview accused the federal government for
not doing much to tackle the bad state of roads across the country.
Badung Pam, one of the commercial drivers who regularly ply the road from Jos to Kaduna, said the road was poorly constructed.
Although
he said heavy trucks that ply the road also contributed to the
dilapidation, he stressed that if the road was properly done, it
wouldn’t have not been as bad as it is today.
“This
road is just about four years and it is already condemned, the
contractor did a very bad job. The present government should investigate
the contract. This may be as a result of corruption,” he said.
Another
commercial driver who didn’t want his name in print, accused the
federal government for showing no interest in road maintenance,
stressing that such attitude was responsible for the bad roads across
the country.
“If there is maintenance culture, the moment this road begins to show signs of weakness, they should have taken action.
“Look
at the road, even the big cars that the “big men” drive cannot pass
here, but nobody cares. Nobody is telling the government about this
road. They must pay urgent attention to the dilapidation on this road.
“How
much will it take to repair this particular spot. All that is needed is
a grader to remove the mud and fill the place with gravels, stones and
sand and the problem is solved. The attitude of government concerning
our roads is rather very unfortunate,” he said.
The
road project was awarded to P. W Nigeria Ltd. on November 15, 1999 by
the Obasanjo administration with May 15, 2001 as completion deadline.
However, because of the difficult terrain on the hilly Plateau, the
project could not be completed as scheduled. It was completed in 2012
and inaugurated in 2013 by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The
then Minister of Works, Onolememen, who performed the inauguration
ceremony in May 2013, had expressed delight over the “quality” of the
project which he said was of “world standard.”
“This
is a first-class road, and it is a road that can be compared with
anyone in the world. In fact, this road has been well constructed and we
are happy that the project, which was taken over by the Federal
Ministry of Works sometime last year (2012), has finally been
delivered,” Onolememen was quoted to have said during the inauguration
of the road.
The
worse portion of the road is in Plateau State, meaning that the Plateau
State Government should collaborate with the federal government to
urgently address the problem and save motorists from the agony and
trauma they experience on the road on a daily basis.
It
is very unfortunate that a road that was touted to be of world standard
upon its completion has become in shambles in just four years.
The
existence of the road has gone a long way in boosting economic and
commercial activities between communities in the two states.
As
a temporary measure, the Plateau State Government should intervene by
finding a temporary solution to ameliorate the hardship being faced by
commuters since the worst spot falls within its territory.
This should not be difficult for any responsive and responsible government to do for the citizens.
John Shiklam (Thisdaylive)