5th November, 2023
Residents of Jos, the capital of Plateau, have commended the state government over the ongoing rehabilitation of major roads within Jos and Bukuru metropolis.
Some of the residents, who spoke separately with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos, said that the move had given the state capital a face lift
The state government, through its Road Maintenance Agency (PSRMA) had commenced the rehabilitation of some major roads within Jos and Bukuru.
Some of these roads were located around Millionaire quarters, Angwan rukuba, Bauchi road, Tina junction, Farin gada, Nasarawa-Gwom, Rantya, Terminus, Sabon barki and Bukuru low-cost.
Other roads under rehabilitation include the ones in Apata, Basa-buji, Masalacin juma’a, Bauchi ring-road, Tudun wada, Hwolshe, Zaramanga, among other areas.
Aside the rehabilitation, government had also cleared water channels along all major roads to avert flooding during the rains.
Christopher Sani, the Youth Leader of angwan rukuba, described government’s decision to rehabilitate the roads in his community as commendable.
Sani, who decried the dilapidated nature of roads in the community, said that the move would further open up the community to more development.
”Road is one of the critical infrastructures that open up any society and before now we lacked this basic amenity in angwan rukuba
”As a community we have consistently called on successive governments to come to our aid, but to no avail.
”So, we are happy because this government decided to address one of our basic needs and this will further open our community to investors.
”With this gesture, angwan rukuba will become the real urban community and we are excited about it, ”he said.
Mrs Chiwendu Uzoama, a resident of millionaire quarters, said that the move would not only beautify the state capital, but would ensure free vehicular movements as well.
She thanked the governor for fulfilling one of his campaign promises just few months into his administration.
”Millionaire quarters have been neglected for long, but with this rehabilitation, it is clear that government has not forgotten us.
”This move will enhance vehicular movements because these are major and very busy roads.
”This is testament that Gov. Caleb Mutfwang is matching his words with action, and it’s commendable,” she said.
Ibrahim Muhammed, a tricycle rider, lauded the move, insisting that it would address the gridlock mostly experience in the city.
Mohammed noted that it would also address insecurity within Jos and environs, adding that the rehabilitation had provided alternative routes to motorists and other road users.
He explained that the alternative routes would naturally address criminal activities within Jos, adding that it would avert a situation where motorists and other road users become easy targets.
”This is a welcome development because it will go a long way to ensure free flow of traffic within Jos and environs.
”Motorists and other road users now have alternative routes to ply; these routes were hitherto abandoned because of their dilapidated states.
”The bad condition of the roads largely contributes to the rising insecurity in Jos, particularly kidnapping, armed robbery, car theft and other petty crimes.
”But with the roads now motorable, insecurity will naturally reduce because even security agencies will promptly respond to distress calls with ease.
”Vehicles and tricycle owners will not visit their mechanics regularly for repairs, because we now have roads without potholes to ply,” he said.
Mr Luka Davou, the Genera Manager of PSRMA, said that the agency was established in 2014 to maintain and rehabilitates all roads in the state that need attention.
He explained that the ongoing rehabilitation aimed at making the roads motorable, particularly toward meeting the needs of the citizens.
Devou said that the exercise would be a continuous one, insisting that the state government was poised toward given all dilapidated roads within Jos and Bukuru metropolis a face lift.
Commenting, Mr Gyang Bere, the Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA) to the governor of Plateau, said that the exercise aimed at delivering on the dividends of democracy to the people.
”During campaigns, the governor promise to better the lots of the people and so the rehabilitation is in fulfillment of that promise.
”This is just the beginning because in the coming days, Plateau will experience avalanche of infrastructural development and it will return to its true nature of the ”home of peace and tourism”.
”The governor decided to fix these roads to enable free flow of traffic and give Plateau people a sense of belonging,
”Our people should expect more because soon, government will start the construction of new roads so as to open up rural and semi-urban communities,” he stated.