Road Collapse: Stakeholders seek dismantling of static checkpoints on Enugu-Onitsha highway

Stakeholders in the road transportation business in Anambra have called for the dismantling of static checkpoints on Enugu-Onitsha highway to save the road from frequent collapse.

The experts made the call at a one day summit on “Traffic and Security Management on Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriage Way” in Awka on Tuesday.

The summit was organised by the Anambra State Government and MTN/CCGE/CLI.

The event drew participants from Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Navy, Fire Service, Ministry of Works and construction industry.

Dr Reginald Facah, Consultants to MTN, said static traffic and security checkpoints should be eradicated and be replaced with mobile patrol where errant drivers were flagged off the road for proper check.

Facah said the road carried the heaviest traffic burden, heaviest crash rate, and greatest security exposure in the Southeast.

He said that conventional approaches to traffic and security management on the entire stretch of the road had failed and commuters were suffering due to the damage.

“Our target is to reduce travel time to one hour and ensure there was all year round free movement on the road,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Emeka Okpara, Federal Controller of Works in Anambra, said his office had already notified the Naval Authority in the state to remove the road blocks as they were interfering with our engineering work.

Okpara appreciated the state government for its support while assuring that the ministry would continue to work without compromising professionalism.

He frowned at the construction of speed breakers on highways, saying that they were dangerous and careless for roads that were designed for 120km speed.

“Roundabouts and U-turns are created based on necessity and not emotions,” he said.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Chief Obiefuna Ibuzo, said the state was ready to work with other players in the transport industry for safer roads in Anambra.

Ibuzo appreciated the security agencies for the role they played at a time but noted that time had come to review their stay on the highway.

Declaring the event open, Ms Chiamaka Nnake, Secretary to Anambra Government said the forum was important given to Anambra a unique traffic challenge, as a result of rapid urbanisation, intense commercial activity and the influx of heavy-duty vehicles.

Nnake said gridlock caused delay in emergency response, increases accident risks, and created opportunities for crime as well as increase cost of doing business, frustrate commuters, and reduce travel efficiency.

“We appreciate your commitment to addressing the critical challenges of traffic and security management on Anambra roads, particularly the Onitsha–Enugu dual carriageway.

“The Enugu-Onitsha highway, a vital commercial corridor in the Southeast, continues to experience severe congestion caused by undisciplined driving and checkpoints.

“The Soludo administration’s commitment to eliminating traffic bottlenecks is evident in several completed and ongoing road dualisation projects.

“Together, we can significantly improve traffic management and road security across Anambra,” she said.