By Francis Ewherido
I was in Delta State recently. As it is customary when I am home in the last two years, I went on state government projects inspection. But I couldn’t do much this time around because of circumstances beyond my control. One of my beloved projects is the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriage way. I inspected it in February last year when I was in Delta. That project is symbolic to me. Between 1984 and 1988, it was my regular route when I was an undergraduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. When Delta State was created with Asaba as the capital in 1991, it became paramount to dualise the road to accommodate the increased traffic.
The Otovwodo flyover under construction is the icing on the cake for users of the East West Road. I really wanted to inspect the flyover, but I couldn’t. But I watched a recent video and the pace of work is unbelievable. At this rate, it should be completed within the 12 months’ target. I had no zeal to inspect the Orere bridge in Ewu Kingdom. I have been monitoring it through relatives. They told me that not much has been achieved since the last time I came home. Orere bridge is in my kingdom of Ewu-Urhobo. I know how much it will improve human and vehicular movement and boost the economy of Ewu Kingdom, especially the riverine communities once it is completed. The delay in the completion of that bridge is a source of worry to well-meaning sons and daughters of Ewu. Other projects in Delta are going at the pace of a gazelle. Why is the Orere bridge going at the pace of a snail? The contract was awarded during the regime of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. Enerhen flyover, which the government of Elder Sheriff Oborevwori started, has been completed. Orere bridge is important to Ewu kingdom and should be completed as soon as possible.
Talking about Enerhen flyover, which links Uvwie LGA to Warri South LGA, it was inevitable I would inspect it. That was my regular route in the 80s. The flyover is topnotch; The Julius Berger standard speaks loud and clear. After taking the flyover, I turned to pass through the service lane below. The drains are well covered which is good. The whole environment is supposed to be very neat, but the Nigerian factor is apparent. Traders have turned part of it to a market while bus drivers converted the other part to a bus park. I didn’t stay long to observe, but I can assure you that in no time, the buses and traders will create artificial traffic jam and make a mess of the service lanes and under the flyover. The only people who will enjoy the new Enerhen road are those taking the flyover.
Nigerians can’t see open spaces in public places or by the roadside and let go. They occupy them. From my experience in Lagos, if you drive the traders and bus drivers from under the bridge, destitutes and mentally deranged people will take over. Lagos State Government has gone into an arrangement with private companies where some roundabouts and flyovers are handed over to companies. The Falomo roundabout is a good example. They beautify and brand the space. All parties benefit. That looks good and equitable to me.
I couldn’t inspect the construction going on at Enerhen road because it was blocked and there was no convenient place to park the vehicle and walk to the construction site. But one thing is clear, by the time the Enerhen Road portion is completed, the traffic gridlock will end unless the Nigerian factor introduces artificial gridlock.
All the projects I am following have one common denominator: they are gamechangers and solution providers. The Otovwodo and Agbor flyovers are not only meant to ease traffic; they will stop both spots from scenes of fatal accidents. The kind of horrendous accidents both spots have experienced is not something any responsible government that has value for life should allow to continue. That is also partly what the PTI junction flyover is all about. Apart from easing traffic congestion, pedestrians have been killed at that spot. The PTI and DSC roundabouts will solve the intractable traffic on that route. People who have experienced the gridlock and accompanying madness will be happy seeing those two flyovers. They are real solution providers. By the time both projects are completed at the end of March, driving on that route will be a real pleasure. I went there a day before the road was partly to be closed to enable the contactor complete the job by the end of March. The flyovers were basically completed, but work is ongoing on the service lanes below. The drains were covered, except a small portion of the drain that was channeled into a canal. I hope the occupants of the houses where the drain is open will be warned not to turn the open drain into dustbin. Na the way for many of us.
I love the layout of the road as you approach Effurun roundabout. Traffic to Benin have separate lanes from the traffic going to Effurun. The Effurun roundabout is being expanded. Hopefully they will remove the lunatics and destitutes who have turned the roundabout to an eyesore. But I saw another emerging eyesore as I exited the roundabout towards NPA road. I saw a congregation of beggars. Behind them is an empty space. If they are left there, that place will become home to them very soon. That is not acceptable. Uvwie LGA, do your work.
There is a small space before the Catholic Church and Anglican Church at 1004 in Victoria Island, Lagos. Destitutes and beggars have turned it to their home. They beg by the road, while the space is home, toilet and bathroom. At Ebute Metta, also in Lagos, there is a street called Kano Street. There is a congregation of beggars. I saw them when I went to visit a family in Ebute Metta for the first time in 1987. Some of them are probably dead now, but their children took over. All they know how to do is begging. If an eagle is raised with chickens, it will never know it’s meant for the skies. That is the tragedy of children raised by beggars. Anyway Uvwie LGA, do your work.
There is a bigger problem. I don’t know why Uvwie LGA allowed a market to take over the Effurun-Benin road as you approach the Effurun flyover (Many people call it Uduaghan flyover). Some days, you can get stuck for an hour there on your way to and from Benin. Last year, we had to do Israelite journey through Osubi to Adagbrasa to link up the dual carriage way to Benin. Before the market took over the road, it took less than a minute to pass that place. Why do Nigerians and even Africans like street trading? We have even exported it to Europe and America. It is a nuisance to other road users and that is my problem. You can imagine people travelling all the way from Lagos to Effurun or Warri. You see the Uduaghan bridge and you feel you are home, but you can be stuck for another one hour!
I don’t know why the Delta State Government didn’t start the reconstruction of the Delta portion of the Effurun-Benin dual carriage way. That market needs to be relocated from where it is. There was a time when the Effurun garage was relocated to where it is now, so relocating the market is no big deal. It’s for the good of all.
Some people might argue that all the markets in Uvwie LGA are by the road. That is true, but this one is by the gateway to Uvwie, Warri, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu, Isoko North and Isoko South LGAs, and even Bayelsa State and Rivers State, if you are coming from Benin or Lagos to these places. The current location of the market is that destabilizing to other road users. The road needs to be relocated off the Effurun-Benin dual carriageway.
Francis Ewherido is a Niger Delta Today columnist.
