Following the strict adherence to the Abuja master plan, the FCT administration has begun the implementation of such in the Central Business District. ABDULLAHI MUHAMMAD writes on efforts and decisions recently taken to curb the menace of traffic in the city.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has continued to reinforce his commitments towards bringing sustainable solutions to disturbing traffic problems in the nation’s capital.
For instance, the Southern Parkway in the Abuja Master plan forms the major spine of the capital city and one of the longest Abuja roads from the Central Business District (CBD) traversing all the four phases of the federal capital city with facilities like street lights, recreational, café centres and under-passes, among others,
It is designed to complement the Northern Parkway and the major arterial running across Mabushi.
When the enforcement started
Following the substantial completion of the Southern Parkway in the FCT and opening of same for use by motorists, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ensured compliance with enforcement on the road compelling all motorists to adhere to its proper usage.
Bello indicated that, “This is one particular project on which we have spent enormous amount of time and resources because without completing this project, the northern and southern sections of Abuja would not be connected. We’ve allowed traffic movement for the last few months just to allow construction to continue, but we have reached a certain milestone where we would now start enforcing the one-way traffic system.”
He lamented that in the last few years, the FCT administration had spent a lot of time and resources towards the completion of major arterial roads within the city.
However, it is now a thing of joy that Abuja is witnessing a level of completion on the roads and thereby opened to the public for use.
The minister, while commissioning patrol vehicles in January at the Department of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) office in Abuja bemoaned the traffic situation where some road users still break traffic rules within the city with impunity either by operating vehicles that are not road worthy or lacking the skills to properly handle their vehicles.
Need to pay attention to road signs
It could also be recalled that the executive secretary of FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin, made similar call earlier after inspecting the road.
He said a lot of road signages have also been provided on the road to guide motorists.
However, it is no longer news that the series of conflicts being experienced on the road is as a result of motorists moving in the wrong directions which has led to the deployment of officials of the road traffic services as well as the FCT transport secretariat by the chairman of the FCT Ministerial Traffic Control Team, Ikharo Attah, in order to ensure strict compliance on the road.
The executive secretary admonished motorists to pay adequate attention to the road signs that have been placed on the road as guide.
According to him, “The minister has asked that we should commence enforcement from Monday 9th of March 2020.
He said, “First and foremost, you will see that a lot of signages have been placed along the road. This has been there since December. We have had this in place for people to understand that eventually, this is the way this movement would be.”
The FCDA boss further explained that movement on the road is mainly one directional, adding that the road does not provide for driving in the reverse direction.
Speaking further he said, “So, vehicular movements on the Southern Parkway would be in one-way rotational mode. This means that all motorists coming from Muhammadu Buhari Way wishing to access ICRC, Shagalinku Restaurant, FCTA/FCDA Secretariat towards Jaiz Bank and Benue House junction would keep to the right lane and then turn at Silverbird Entertainment Centre (Shoprite) by Yar’adua Centre and Sheraton Hotel and Towers moving straight towards the National Mosque, CBN headquarters, Christian (Ecumenical) Centre to again access NTA, FCTA/FCDA, Shagalinku Restaurant or proceed to access Area 8 through Muhammadu Buhari Way.”
The executive secretary continued, “Eventually, when the bridge is concluded on Muhammadu Buhari Way, you can move over there and crossover up to Nnamdi Azikiwe which we call Ring Road One. If you want to do a U-turn and come back for whatever reason, you can do that at the traffic light and then you also come in through the other side of it and then you can head on to ICRC and on to the other FCTA headquarters.
“Therefore, from now on, we are urging that people should be very observant. These signs have been there long before now. So, it’s meant for motorists to take note of them and make sure that you don’t move in the wrong direction,” he said.
As if it was not enough, acting transport secretary in the FCTA, Mrs Alice Odey- Achu, who is also at the fore front of this project noted that the directional signs which have been placed on the road for several months should be adequate guide for motorists.
She reiterated that officials of the FCT transport secretariat would always be on ground to show motorists the correct way in case they miss the directional signs.
“I think that the signs should be enough for people who are drivers, but we would still have our men on the way guiding us, reminding us that there are road signs to observe,” she added.
It is however expected that a massive publicity and public enlightenment campaign is expected to commence to properly guide road users especially as not every motorist is used to that part of the city.