Transportation stakeholders in Anambra have called for the dismantling of static checkpoints on the Enugu-Onitsha highway to prevent frequent collapses on the road.
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 the Federal Road Safety Corps, the navy, the fire service, the works ministry and the construction industry.
Reginald Facah, a consultant to MTN, said static traffic and security checkpoints should be eradicated and replaced with mobile patrols that flag off errant drivers for proper checks.
Mr Facah said the road carried the heaviest traffic burden, the heaviest crash rate, and the greatest security exposure in the South-East. He said that conventional approaches to traffic and security management along the entire stretch of the road had failed, and that commuters were suffering due to the damage.
“Our target is to reduce travel time to one hour and ensure there is all year round free movement on the road,” he said.
Emeka Okpara, the federal comptroller of works in Anambra, said his office had already notified the naval authority in the state to remove the roadblocks, as they were interfering with the naval authority’s engineering work.
Mr Okpara appreciated the state government for its support while assuring that the ministry would continue to work without compromising professionalism. He frowned upon the construction of speed breakers on highways, saying they are dangerous for roads designed for 120km/h.
“Roundabouts and U-turns are created based on necessity and not emotions,” he said.
The transport commissioner, Obiefuna Ibuzo, said the state was ready to work with other players in the transport industry to ensure safer roads in Anambra.
Mr Ibuzo appreciated the security agencies for the role they played at a time, but noted that the time had come to review their stay on the highway.
Chiamaka Nnake, the secretary to the Anambra government, said the forum was important given that Anambra faces a unique traffic challenge due to rapid urbanisation, intense commercial activity, and the influx of heavy-duty vehicles.
According to Ms Nnake, gridlock causes delays in emergency response, increases accident risk, creates opportunities for crime, increases the cost of doing business, frustrates commuters, and reduces 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,” she said.
(NAN)
