The Nation Newspaper

Tag: motorists

  • Motorists bemoan ‘worsening’ robbery attacks

    Motorists bemoan ‘worsening’ robbery attacks

    Motorists are appealing to Lagos State Police chief Umar Manko to save them from incessant attacks by hoodlums in traffic gridlock.

    The commissioner, they said, should direct his men to be on foot patrol during heavy traffic to check hoodlums’ activities.

    “The commissioner has proved to be a disciplined officer who is ruthless when it comes to crime-fighting. Available records show that he has arrested notorious armed robbers, kidnappers, fraudsters and other criminals that have been terrorising us; but he must not sleep yet,” said motorist, Chief Muniru Alani. He added: “In the past few weeks, I have been attacked in traffic snarls by armed robbers. This is why the commissioner must do more. He has a lot of work to do.”

    Last Thursday, around 9 pm, over 15 armed men reportedly terrorised motorists around 1st Rainbow bus stop, inwards Mile 2 on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    The attack, according to eyewitnesses, was made possible by the bad spot on the route, where motorists slow down to avoid damaging their vehicles.

    The problem was worsened by the narrowing of the highway from that point because of the ongoing road construction; some heavy-duty vehicles blocked a major part.

    An eyewitness, Emma Nwachukwu, said: “When I noticed that the hoodlums were attacking and robbing motorists and even passengers of commercial vehicles, I slowed down because I was about 20 metres away from where they were operating. I quickly thought of what to do. And I was lucky to veer through the link road that leads to ABC Transport Company. That was how I escaped from the robbers. But about five vehicles were robbed in that incident.

    “The irony is that about 30 metres away from where this ugly incident occurred, there was a police patrol team looking for motorists to stop, demand particulars, and extort money from. There is also a police post opposite there; still, motorists drive in fear. The commissioner of Police and Area Commander in charge of the place should call their men to order and advise them on how to do these things right. They should not wait until someone is killed by these hoodlums in the traffic before they will swing into action.”

    Nwachukwu said it was not the first time he was witnessing such incident, adding that he had also fallen victim at Mile2.  “It is an incident that occurs every day and I believe that the moment the hoodlums know that the police are living up to their responsibility by arresting them, they would stay off the roads,” he added.

    Other motorists said the same incident often happened whenever there was traffic jam at the popular Toyota under bridge from Orile to Mile 2; between Contain Bridge and Orile/Alakija area along Mile 2/Badagry Expressway.

    At Toyota under bridge, just by the link road to Airport Road from Oshodi, two motorcycles belonging to the Rapid Response Squad of the state police command are always parked there with no policeman in sight, while robbers have a field day robbing motorists.

    Motorists going to Airport Road from Mile 2, it was gathered, are not spared, despite the presence of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), not too far from a newspaper house.

    Similarly, whenever a vehicle breaks down in most part of the metropolis, hoodlums will appear from nowhere, pretend that they want to assist the driver and rob him.

    A victim told The Nation that he had a flat tyre along Apapa/Oshodi Expressway and before he knew what was happening, about 10 hoodlums rushed out from nowhere and offered to help him push the car off the road; but because he was with his driver, he rejected the offer.

    “The next thing they did was to start demanding money. They said I should give them N20,000 or they would vandalise the car. I pleaded with them and gave them N10,000 because I had my phones, laptop and tablet in the car. The hoodlums took the money and disappeared,” the victim said.

  • Users of Cross River’s federal roads groan in pain

    Users of Cross River’s federal roads groan in pain

    The state of federal roads in Cross River State has been a source of concern to the state government, residents and motorists. Their cries have fallen on deaf ears and the roads keep getting worse, leading to waste of man-hours, writes  Nicholas Kalu

    If there are things Cross River State has in abundance, they are stretches of federal roads in utter states of disrepair.

    From Bakassi to Obanliku, the condition of these roads mostly constructed in the 70s has been a source of misery for users.

    The state is so large that driving from some parts to another can last for seven hours or more. Mostly contributing to this is the poor state of federal roads which link up most of the 18 local government areas.

    There are 22 federal roads in the state spanning about 1100km.

    Some of them are: Calabar-Itu, Calabar-Ikom, Calabar-Ikang, Ikom-Ogoja, Ugep-Obubra, Ikom-Obudu, Ogoja-Obudu, Ogoja-Yala-yahe, Ogoja-Gakem-Vandikya, Mbok-Yahe, Okuku-Alifokpa and Ugep-Itigidi-Afikpo.

    The roads were constructed over three decades ago, when the heavy traffic on them were not as high as now.   But with increasing number of heavy duty trucks, especially those conveying chippings, rocks and cement out of the state, the roads have deteriorated badly in the past decade.

    An official of the Federal Ministry of Works who begged not to be named said about 80 per cent of the federal roads in the state need urgent attention.

    He said: “I can tell you that from our appraisal of the roads, they need total reconstruction to bring them to the capacity that can cope with the thousands of heavy duty trucks that ply them.”

    Despite promises by government agencies over time that the roads would be fixed, nothing has been done about them. In fact, the terrible condition of these roads has over time been a cause of contention between the state and Federal governments.

    Governor Liyel Imoke, at a forum in Calabar, questioned the rationale behind the Federal Government controlling roads that are located within states.

    The governor argued that if a legislation was put in place and control of such roads is given to the states with additional funding given to them to manage the roads, it would be a much better situation.

    He said this would enable states fix federal roads more urgently as they are the ones who feel the impact directly, instead of waiting endlessly for the federal government to repair them.

    At a time, the Commissioner for Works, Legor Idagbo, said the state government had spent billions on the rehabilitation of federal roads.

    Idagbo said the state was still waiting for a refund of the money from the Ministry of Works.

    The Commissioner appealed to the Federal Government to reimburse the money to encourage the state to do more.

    “Everybody knows that we are having financial challenges, so we are appealing to the Federal Government to help us.

    “We are also appealing to the government to expedite action on rehabilitation and reconstruction of the federal roads,” Idagbo said.

    Commissioner for Information Mr Akin Ricketts said: “Government wishes to note that the deplorable state of federal roads in the state has worsened in the last six years, as a result of which the state government has expended over N13 billion on remedial maintenance of these roads. No kobo has been paid back to the state till date by the Federal Government.

    “We, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently come to the rescue of the State by directing the re-construction and dualisation of these Federal roads to bring them to the capacity of the current high volume of heavy duty traffic on these roads as well as make refunds of the over N 13 billion already spent on providing remedial maintenance on these Federal roads.”

    Most infamous of these roads are the Calabar-Itu and Calabar-Ikom roads, which are the only gateways by land in and out of the capital city, Calabar, where traffic activities are most intense.

    The Calabar-Itu road, especially, the Odukpani axis, which is the most strategic and economically viable of these two as it the shortest route to other south-south and south-east states is worse off. Besides the accidents that occur on the road frequently, it is often that commuters have had to spend days on the road because of trucks that fall, causing serious traffic jams.

    Towards the end of last year, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Cross River State embarked on strike, plunging the state into the agony of fuel scarcity. Their reason: the deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway.

    NUPENG’s action did well to bring the state of the road to the front burner as it appeared the terrible state of the road was all but neglected by relevant authorities despite its huge significance to the economy of the state.

    Transport operators and commuters who ply the road often were also full of tale of woes.

    A businessman, who uses the road often, Kenneth Obi, said: “I don’t know if this is another of their punitive measures. This state has been suffering from the hands of the Federal Government over the years. The state does not have much but the only road leading into it is almost impassable. I have slept on this road severally and it is affecting my business seriously. In fact, this road which I would say is the only main road to Calabar is killing the economy of this state. I beg the Federal Government to come to come to the rescue.”

    As help appears not to be coming from Abuja, many users have begged the state government to the state government to reconstruct and dualise the Calabar-Odukpani Highway, given its importance.

    At the moment, the road is a narrow strip with bad spots in several places.

    A commuter, who gave his name as Bassey Michael, pleaded that even if the road belongs to the Federal Government, the state government should intervene urgently as they are affected directly.

    “This Federal Government they are talking about is actually very far away and they are not feeling anything. The condition of this of this road is affecting the state negatively, especially economically.”

  • Oyo residents urge govt to fix bridge

    Residents have urged the government to fix the collapsed bridge on the Sanga/Iseke road in Oyo West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    They lamented the neglect of the bridge, which collapsed in 2012, saying it had caused many accidents and deaths.

    There is no sign on the road to warn motorists of the danger ahead.

    The residents urged the Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Soji Ojoawo, to fix the bridge, which is opposite his family house.

    A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We are facing a lot of hardship as a result of the collapsed bridge. What is more disturbing is the inability of our local government council to do preliminary work on the bridge, let alone rehabilitation, considering the number of people that have died there. We urge our God-fearing and sincere governor to come to our aid.”

    Ojoawo did not respond to calls made to his mobile phone.

    Motorists on the Oyo/Ogbomoso road have urged the State Traffic Management Authority to check the frequent abandonment of heavy duty vehicles on the highway.

    They complained that faulty trucks are often abandoned in the middle of the road for weeks without consideration for other road users.

    The motorists called for a patrol by towing vehicle drivers.

    They urged the government to erect traffic lights at T-junctions in Owode, Olokomeje, Hospital Road, Durbar, Awe and Bode-Ogbomoso.

     

     

  • Photo: Lagos flood

    Photo: Lagos flood

  • Containerised

    Containerised

    Many motorists often flee when they see a trailer carrying containers pull up beside them in the next lane. This photograph is evidence they are wise to do so. This terrifying accident occurred last week in Mushin area of Lagos. Two cars were squashed but miraculously no life was lost.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PHOTO: Muyiwa Hassan

  • Motorists warned on traffic laws

    The Unit Commander (RS 2.19) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Oshodi, Lagos, Mr. Samuel Ogundayo, yesterday urged Lagos motorists to always abide by traffic laws and regulations, even as he charged them to see officers and men of the Commission as friends.

    He said a change in attitude becomes necessary because majority of the drivers plying the Agege Motor Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ilupeju Bypass and Ikorodu Road, which is the unit’s jurisdiction, are illiterate.

    He spoke in his office at a ceremony organised by officers and men of the unit to commemorate his one year in office.

    “Our men are always out to ensure the safety of lives and property, the motoring public must obey all traffic laws and drive safe,” Ogundayo said.

    The commander, who reminisced on the unit’s activities in the last one year, said the unit has enjoyed tremendous support of all stakeholders for peaceful operations of the command.

    He said besides enforcement, the unit sold the commission to the public by weekly enlightenment campaigns at the various motor parks, garages and schools within its jurisdiction, to educate drivers and school children on the need for safe driving.

    He said the unit, as part of its corporate social responsibility, donated to the blind and the handicapped on October 1, last year. He also said plans were in top gear to hold awareness campaigns round 30 schools in his domain on the need to always make use of Zebra crossing. The event, he said, would take place between May 24 and 27.

    He listed accommodation, as the greatest challenge of the unit, noting that the lack of adequate office space is impeding the efficiency of his men.”

    The commander said the FRSC would continue to champion safety culture on Lagos roads. He praised his lieutenants for their dedication, which he said, accounted for the achievements recorded in the year.

    The Head of Operations, Commander C.E. Ibe, extolled Ogundayo’s virtues, and urged officers under him to rededicate themselves to work to sustain the good works of the unit.

    The highpoint of the event was a drama sketch on safe driving and observance of Zebra crossing by the Road Safety Club of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

  • Motorists, commuters urge govt to repair Lagos-Abeokuta highway

    Motorists and commuters, plying the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway yesterday lamented the deplorable state of the road, appealing to the Federal Government to fix it before the rainy season.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a report said the road dotted with potholes have been causing gridlocks as motorists tried to manoeuvre.

    A NAN correspondent reports that some of the worst portions of the road include Pleasure to Super stretch; Dopemu Bridge; Adealu to Iyana Ipaja; Abule Egba to Sango and Salako to Ifo.

    NAN checks revealed that the contractor handling the repair of the road, Julius Berger Plc, had moved out of the site since June 2012, due to inadequate funding.

    The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in December, 2012, rehabilitated some portions of the road from Owode to Ilogbo to reduce the discomfort experienced by road users.

    Motorists and commuters in separate interviews with NAN pleaded with government to repair the road.

    A business woman, Mrs Tosin Martins, told NAN that there was no proper drainage to take care of surface run-offs during the rainy season.

    She explained that traffic on the highway was usually compounded by flood and appealed to the Federal Government to construct drainage on the highway.

  • LASTMA bars junior officers from arresting motorists

    Lagos State Government has directed junior officials of its Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), to stop arresting motorists who violate traffic laws.

    LASTMA General Manager Babatunde Edu said this was part of efforts to check abuse by LASTMA men and return sanity to the roads.

    He spoke at a public forum on the new Lagos Traffic Law, organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

    Edu urged motorists apprehended by a junior LASTMA official to report to the authority, but implored the public to obey the law.

    He said the junior officers, who could be identified with the black epaulet on their uniforms, were only to assist motorists and ensure that traffic laws are obeyed.

    Edu said: “You can easily identify a junior officer with black epaulet on his shoulder. Henceforth, junior officers can no longer arrest, only the senior ones with red epaulet on their uniforms can. We have stopped the junior ones from arresting motorists except during joint operation. That is the extent we have gone in checkmating aggressive enforcement of the law.”

    The government, he said, was spending heavily on continuous training of the officers on non-aggressive ways of dealing with motorists.

    LASTMA officers, he said, were expected to assist any motorists whose vehicles broke down unexpectedly on the highway, rather than harass or victimise them.

    “We have trained these men to be fair with motorists. They are not to harass or victimise on the road. If they do otherwise, please do not fight them, just take note of their names and report them. You don’t enforce law by breaking it.

    “What I’m saying here may be totally different from what obtains on the roads, please I urge you to report them. Every officer has a name on his uniform. However, our roads must not also be turned into a mechanic workshop where you will decide to repair your car; you have to evacuate the faulty car from the road so as not to disturb other road users,” Edu said.

  • Travel insurance: How motorists’ rip off commuters

    Travel insurance: How motorists’ rip off commuters

    Most premiums paid by commuters are not remitted by motorists to underwriting firms, The Nation has gathered.

    Investigation revealed that most commuters are ignorant of the fact that insurance premium is fused into the travel fares they pay at inter-city motor terminals, hence, they are swindled by motorists.

    Commuters are expected to fill travel manifest, which is backed with a premium recharge card motorists are required to buy from insurance firms. But, often times, most motorists make commuters to fill manifest without procuring the cards.

    At a major bus terminal, this reporter was offered a manifest without a card to fill; this led him to enquire about the premium card. He was told by one of the motorists that they often fail to buy the card to save cost. The motorist noted that having settled the park dues and fuel, they are left with little margin.

    He noted that one of the ways to enhance their revenue is to avoid the purchase of the cards which amount is incorporated into the fare.

    Most commuters interviewed claimed they were not aware that premium cost is fused into the fare they pay to the motorists. To them, the manifest is to trace their contact in case of mishap.

    An underwriter with one of the companies selling such products said the company did not engage in monitoring the activities of motorists. He said the company only pays claims to individuals with genuine claims, adding that before a claim is paid, there must be an evidence of payment of premium which is done through the purchase of the cards.

    He noted that motorists who do not pay their premium subject commuters to risks, as they would not be entitled to any claims in the event of any mishap.

    He urged commuters to ensure that motorists they patronise have adequate insurance cover which can be ascertained by ensuring that a premium card is attached to the manifest they are asked to fill before embarking on a journey.