It is no longer news that the rate of accidents on felele road, Lokoja of Kogi state is getting too frequent and deverstating.For readers using this road it is no longer news also, that the number of lives lost in this death trap road,is alarming.Just last week some students of the Federal University, Lokoja, met their untimely end on this same road. The road is the link between the North and the Southern, Western and Eastern axis of this Country and therefore,Vehicles from these axis, use this road to get to their respective destinations.Most reported cases were said to be as a result of break failure while descending the hill from Crusher axis towards felele.
The recent one resulted into the loss of Seven livessix of which are said to be students of the Federal University Lokoja .Students and Occupiers of structures along this path are often victims of such accidents. The same area also hosted students from Kogi state polytechnic and civil servants, artisans, traders etc It is high time the state and federal Government come together and take proactive measures to stem this recurrence by diverting the road from this densely populated environment. It would be recalled that this was the hard experience of Lokoja township before the road was diverted to this felele side. There have been reported cases of accidents in Lokoja old market area,kabawa, Kporoka, Galeile etc,before the road was diverted to its present location along felele.Today not much vehicle accidents are reported in Lokoja township roads. A busy road such as this has no enough road traffic officers to control vehicular movements and to check the road worthiness of vehicle plying the road. Kudos to the Nigeria police Personnel that prevented breakdown of law and order, at the scene,the story would have been different.It is therefore, on this note that we call on the state and Federal Governments to as a matter of urgency divert the road linking crusher village to felele to link with the main bridge at Edeyah, in Kogi Local Government Area ..The road immediately after kabba junction can be diverted from there to Edeyah. This will go a long way to safeguard livesand property in this area. The link road when constructed should be duralized and fitted with security light to check the activities of Criminals.
A police post can be erected along the road to further check movement and safety of vehicles and people using this link road. While we appreciate the timely response by the Kogi State House of Assembly to the incident it is important that the House should convey it’s resolutions to the Federal Government and appropriate Agencies to provide more surveillance on thebroad. We cannot be burying our young children on this deadly road that we can effectively manage. The authorities of Federal University of Lokoja is also advised to use the alternative route to access the Campus.Theynshould also ensure that security is put in place to guarantee the safety of our students from miscreants and criminal elements. The traditional authorities in the felele community should rise up to the occasion by checking movements of miscreants in the community. They should not keep mute as if it is the usual routine of life.
It is a pride for the community to host a giant citadel of learning in the state.
Samuel Shiaka Atumiye
Samlanz Educational Foundation
Felele Lokoja
Kogi State.