KONGONET Calls For State, FG Urgent Intervention
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chairman, Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET), Mallam Idris Ozovehe Muraina on Friday frowned at the deplorable conditions of both state and federal roads across the state and called for immediate intervention of the Federal government.
Mallam Muraina who expressed sadness over the impassable nature of some parts of Lokoja township roads at the third quarterly Press briefings by KONGONET on the State of Kogi stressed the need for immediate palliative interventions to reduce the hardship faced by motorists from within and outside the state .
Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) is a coalition of Civil Society Networks Championing the promotion of participatory democracy, good governance and network coordination in Kogi State through advocacy and policy influencing for the well-being of Kogites.
The Coalition mentioned Crusher –Zone 8 road (Hassan Usman Kastina road), the Welcome to Lokoja-Barracks road, The deadly Ganaja Junction – 500 housing Units – Ganaja Village road and the Murtala Mohammed road leading to Nataco 0have all become a nightmare for mororistsplying these routes.
The NGOs said Ganaja community, an outskirt suburb, has been completely cut off from the rest of Lokoja, with residents now use canoes to get across.
The Coalition also listed Aiyegunle Gbede-Egbe road as deplorable since the commencement of the present administration in 2016 said the road which connects Ilorin is so bad that travellers now negotiate very difficult alternatives through Ekiti and Ondo States.
Similarly, the Coalition said the Lokoja Okene road with particular emphasis on the Obajana junction has become a death trap causing insecurity and loss of manpower hours to the state.
As part of deplorable roads in the state KONGONET added that the Ayingba –Dekina road and Ayingba Abejukolo roads have become havens for criminals who take advantage of the bad roads to unleash mayhem.
The Coalition said the loss of lives and properties on the Felele highway is one too many, said there is the urgent need to investigate, prosecute the owners of the truck causing the accident so as to serve as a deterrent to other road users.
KONGONET encouraged the Kogi State Government to wake up to its responsibility of providing better roads and to pay compensation to the families of the injured and deceased in the last Tanker disaster.
KONGONET asked the Kogi State Government to take responsibility for her incompetency in discharging her duties of protecting lives and property by improving on her road infrastructures across the State, commiserate with the people and government of the state over the recent Felele tanker accident, said the accidents could have been averted if the needful was done.
The Coalition said the flooding that had been predicted by The Nigeria Metrological Agency became a reality within the reported quarter without a proactive measures as large portions of the state have been submerged by water, sacking communities and rendering families homeless.
