Accidents: Reps Wants Abuja Roads Expanded

ABUJA, July 20, (THEWILL) - The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to expand the Nyanya/Mararaba/Keffi road in the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] linking Jos and Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi to four lanes as a step towards checking the spate of accidents on the busy road.

The House also directed the Vehicle Inspector Officers [VIO] and Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC] to ensure road worthiness of articulated vehicles before they are allowed to ply the roads in the territory.

The chamber has subsequently directed the FRSC and Federal Capital Territory [FCT] Police command to enforce the ban on the movement of heavy duty and other articulated vehicles on the road during day time till 12 midnight.

The House equally directed the Federal Capital Territory Administration to expedite action on the completion of the Abuja Railway Project and also open up more road network in the territory in other to ease traffic congestion in the city.

The House resolution came following a motion sponsored by Hon. Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo who decried the series of multiple accidents along the Nyanya-Keffi dual carriage way which he said has claimed many lives.

Jisalo had in the motion argued that the incessant cases of such accidents on the road are usually caused by heavy duty trucks and other articulated vehicles plying the road at peak hours.

Specifically, a fatal multiple accident occurred along the Nyanya-Keffi road last Monday when a trailer truck lost control and rammed into eight vehicles killing about 20 people and left several others seriously injured.