The Crying State of Nigerian Roads

The present state of Nigeria roads is nothing to write about and these roads have caused more harm to the public.

“Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air. – Henry Anatole

Yesterday, I left Lagos to Oyo State only to realise that the increase in transport fare was appalling. Considering the economy of the country, I moved from one terminus to another, looking for where to get transport at cheaper rate but so disheartening that I did not.

I was left with no choice than to join one of the buses in Obalende. It saddens my heart to witness the shameful state of these roads. After some minutes, I developed headache.

I certainly don’t need to ask the driver the reason for bus fee hike because I can see for myself the damage our roads cause to passengers let alone the bus.

The bad condition of the roads cause everyday sorrow as the roads spoil cars for owners and most embarrassing, reduce our population by leading many people to mortuary on daily basis.

Provision of social amenities is one of the functions of government but reverse is the case as I pass through more shameful road on Ibadan-Iseyin expressway.

The people living in this axis have been denied of social amenities. After expressing my displeasure in the bus, I heard a voice from the back saying: “Corruption is the key problem of many places in Nigeria. Young man, don’t be depressed, there are worse roads in this country. Government only remember the masses during elections”, he said.

Immediately I heard this voice, I remember that over N1.4 trillion has reportedly been spent on construction and maintenance of roads.

The rulers have only failed to use the money judiciously. They fly on air from town to town, love themselves more than the country as a nation, eat and drink with the natural resources that belong to the masses and enjoy our collective joy within different secretariats.

It is important to note that when we are faced with dead traps as roads, the disaster that comes with it make the masses the victims.

Arguably, all highways in Nigeria are in embarrassing condition. In fact, many of the state and local roads have been forgotten. The rulers pass through those roads once in four years to give political talks during electioneering process.

A Nigerian traveling by road must calculate paracetamol allowance with his or her transport fare to avoid being admitted in hospital.

It is pathetic that regardless of huge revenues earning from our natural resources, the rulers have failed to make life easy for the electorates.

On getting to my place of destination, I have no choice than to sympathise with the transporters who suffer the irregularities of the government.

If you write from now till tomorrow, our government care less as corruption narrates the poor state of the roads. Meanwhile, we must continue to demand responsibility from government or else, Nigeria infrastructural development will remain in shambles.

Public interest must be met in this aspect.

Regards,
Adejumo Kabir, a 200l student of Obafemi Awolowo University, a Campus Journalist and a Public Affairs Analyst writes from a jungle on Ibadan-Iseyin Road, Oyo State.

14th of September, 2017

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