A civil society organization, People’s Voice Advocacy Network has charged the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to consider the relocation of the proposed flyover bridge at Unity to Okoolowo area of the State.
In a statement released on Monday by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Isiaka Yusuf Obe, the group said it was imperative for the governor to always consider Needs Assessment before deciding on location and funding of infrastructural facilities such as bridges, roads, health facilities, and educational institutions, to avoid misplaced allocation of projects and waste of taxpayers’ money.
The statement reads in part: “The People’s Voice Advocacy Network frowns against the Kwara State Government’s choice of Unity Road for its proposed flyover instead of Okoolowo area that is in greater need of the facility. For a long time now, the safety of residents and motorists plying the Okoolowo road has been put in jeopardy.
“Following several unfortunate accidents that have claimed lives and property along that axis which is an interstatemeeting point, motorists, residents and marketers have expressed the urgent need for a flyover or underpass bridge at the junction to curb accident and save lives. The state government has, however, continued to overlook their plight, showing that it doesn’t care about people’s safety.
“Owing to the regular loss of lives that have been witnessed along the Okoolowo axis, we are bothered about the insensitivity of the Abdulrazaq-led administration and its choice of Unity Road for a flyover rather than Okoolowo. The government should note that what is needed at Unity to address traffic occasionally witnessed there is road expansion and not a flyover; Okoolowo area is in greater need of the flyover.
“We advise the state government not to repeat the mistake it made on the flyover at Tanke. It was a public knowledge that what Tipper Garage needed was an expansion of its road and not a flyover. Unfortunately, the government dismissed genuine concerns of the public and went ahead to build a flyover there. About three years later, it has failed to complete the project, leading to frustration among road users and residents of the area.
“We urge the government to consider the Eisenhower Matrix that says:
If it is important and urgent — DO IT.
If it is important but not urgent — SCHEDULE IT
If it is urgent but not important — DELEGATE IT
If it is not important, not urgent — DELETE IT.
“In lieu of the above, having a bridge in Unity does not fall in the first Eisenhower’s matrix; but Okoolowo does. This is the best international practice on Infrastructure Needs Assessment that encourages prioritization of value-added projects based on importance and urgency.
“Lastly, we use this medium to express our displeasure at the slow pace of work and poor quality job on the ongoing Tunde Idiagbon Bridge. We appreciate the fact that the government is currently addressing some construction mistakes on the project by engaging another contractor. We are however calling on the government to dislcose to Kwarans the initial contractors that were in charge of the project and prosecute them and their enablers for the low quality job.
“We also reminding the State’s branch of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN of its statutory responsibility. On no ground should they allow themselves to be used as tool against the people’s interest. We must prevent any act that will put the lives of road users at risk. ‘A stitch in time saves nine’.”
Signed:
*Comrade Isiaka Yusuf Obe,*
*Publicity Secretary,*
*People’s Voice Advocacy Network.*
