Solar Lights Amidst Potholes: Motorists Question NDDC’s Priority on Auchi-Benin Highway
By DADA AYOKHAI
The decision by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to install solar street lights on the Edo North axis of the Benin-Auchi expressway has sparked widespread outrage from the public and motorists who traverse this route daily.
Though the installation was to enhance visibility on the highway but it has raised questions about priorities.
Many are wondering if the lights will highlights the numerous potholes, making it easier for drivers to spot them.
They said it is better to addressing the root cause of the problem – the disrepair of the road itself rather than fixing solar solar light on the road
The potholes are the real issue, and until they’re fixed is the lights might just be highlighting the problem rather than solving comparable it to putting lipstick on a pig.
According to Mr Jafaru Azeez, a tipper driver , If the NDDC had conducted an adequate assessment of the community’s needs, it would have realised that its priority should have been to repair the numerous potholes and damaged sections of the road.
This, he said would provide genuine relief to road users rather than wasting resources on what would not addressed bad state of the eoad.
Recall, Works Minister, Engr. Dave Umahi, once rushed to Auchi to appeal to the members of the road transport union who were angry over the appalling condition of the road protested and block traffic on the road.
Engr. Umahi made several promises to the protesting union drivers and the public. He vowed immediate government action and assured that the dilapidated sections of the road would be properly rehabilitated.
Minister’s promise, like others before it, has remained unfulfilled to date.
Amidst a troubling rise in accidents on this road, social media influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM) took decisive action. Rallying public-spirited citizens, and spearheaded initiatives to patch numerous potholes, directly addressing the urgent need to reduce the frequency of fatal incidents in the area.
Similarly, Auchi-based popular tele-evangelist Apostle Suleiman Johnson of the Omega Church Ministry stepped up. He invested his own resources to finance repairs on severely damaged sections of the road,opposite his church, demonstrating a strong commitment to curtailing the ongoing tragedies.
Three critical spots along the Benin-Auchi highway present serious challenges for motorists. As drivers approach these treacherous areas, anxiety heightens as they fear their vehicles might get stuck or, even worse, flip over.
The most dangerous locations include the Jattu junction, opposite the once popular Mr Biggs eatery, the Auchi Poly campus 2 gate, and the Aviele junction. These hotspots are largely responsible for the majority of accidents on the road. The congestion and loss of valuable man-hours in these areas are staggering.
Urgent appeals have been made for Hon. Abubakar Momoh to take decisive action and ensure the necessary improvements are made.
As the Minister of Regional Development from the Edo North district overseeing the NDDC, he has a critical role to play in addressing this pressing issue.
