The Ongoing Massive Road Construction

THE ONGOING MASSIVE ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN IMO STATE: AN AVENUE FOR FLYOVERS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS


If I find myself in a magnificent and ostentatious palace, I will continue to smile ostentatiously. More so, if at any of the forthcoming nights, I end up dreaming of seeing myself in heaven, then there ought to be no cause for any sort of alarm that may occur knowingly or unknowingly. In other words, there is no existing soul that doesn’t pray tirelessly to attain to the peak, or to find him/herself in an extreme euphoric point. And if peradventure you eventually find yourself at such anticipatory moment, then definitely your voice/tongue shall be filled with fathomless eulogies and apparently, your face shall follow suit by showcasing unquantifiable smiles.

Let’s relocate to this angle. Take for instance; if everyone prays to see his/her State of origin as a paradise. And at a point or in the long run, a picture which appears like a paradise showcases in such State, won’t you have it in mind that truly such intense prayers are about to be answered or have been answered, as the case may be? If truly that the participants in such prayers happen to see the aforementioned picture as a sign of the presence of a Messiah, then the participants and their well wishers would not hesitate or seize to generate and as well regenerate immeasurable smiles on their respective faces. Significantly, such unusual idiosyncrasy would be accompanied with steady songs of praises.

Some weeks ago, a friend and colleague who resides in Lagos State called to enquire on some alleged facts as regards Imo State that weren’t so clear to him, based on the ongoing news which he has been receiving from different quarters. He said that some persons had been saying that there were tremendous improvements in Imo State, whilst some on the other hand were saying that the present administration of the State lacked good governance thereby referring its subjects as dupes. He further told me that such speculations had ushered in a point of paradox in his mindset therefore he couldn’t make any meaning out of it. From my candid response, I told him that presently Imo State has changed for good and that, that should be of paramount importance to any well meaning Imo indigene/resident or any crusader of positive change. I subsequently told him that I had no interest in any sort of rumour I receive; stating that as an analyst, my major interest lies in what I see taking place in the State, rather than what I hear.

Brethren, our discussion for today lies on the massive road construction in Imo State and the need to accompany such project with installation of flyovers and traffic lights. Honestly, I can’t remember vividly how many times I have written and as well published on the unavoidable importance of traffic lights and flyovers on our roads. The past administration in the State was erecting something or a project that appeared to agree with this my humble opinion but regrettably such project was not accomplished / actualized. Could that be a mirage? Well, let’s ride on!

Traffic lights and flyovers are means through which traffic problems are being restricted or avoided. In other words, they are instruments that are used to fight traffic crimes or aberrations on the roads which they are situated. Traffic lights are usually found either on cross junctions or T-junctions while flyovers are mainly found on cross junctions. The former, as programmed digital equipment, instructs commuters on when to pass in or cross to a particular direction while the latter enables commuters to operate both on and above the road level because it’s a structure which carries one road above another thereby creating sanity on the roads and allowing enough space for the pedestrians. In some cases or corners, the flyovers are being constructed for only the pedestrians.

If properly checked, most of the road accidents recorded in the past was due to lack of the above tools on any of the roads where such incident occurred. Kindly indulge in a thorough research both in Nigeria and beyond; and you will ascertain that the junctions where the aforementioned tools are installed / constructed witness none or less traffic congestions on a daily basis.

As massive road construction is presently taking place at strategic points in Imo State, there’s an urgent need for the pragmatic administrators initiating such feasible projects to acknowledge the socio-economic efficacy of traffic lights and flyovers so that the users of the roads in question would continue to say that truly the Messiah has come. Please we should endeavour to do this thing right so everyone would feel our presence and indomitable impact.

Brethren, it’s no longer news that Imo has gotten a new look and that the present administration led by Chief Rochas Okorocha is striding relentlessly to ensure that Imo State becomes a paradise. Yes, I ought to be seen as a myopic observer if I fail to acknowledge this fact because even the blind could see that Imo has indeed drastically become a better place to be. But I must tell you this; if the best which we all are anticipating must come, then we shouldn’t embrace any time for siesta or even a nap because working round the clock is the best way to actualize a tangible object/goal. Think about it!



COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Social analyst & activist