By David Onimisi Lawani, Israel Joel
Emmanuel Idris, Security guard
The road has been bad, but I am sure it was due to the failed portion they are addressing that is causing the traffic gridlock.

I hope that they will quickly intervene and ensure that passengers are not stranded. The stories we have been hearing about the place is not funny. Since morning, I know of someone traveling to Okene, and he has not left Gwagwalada; you can imagine the frustration.

We want the Federal Government to come and help us put the road in good shape. What are we paying tax for if a major road as important as that Lokoja-Abuja road is not fixed? The volume of traffic on the road is much. The road is a gateway to the South.

Lots of things like foodstuffs come in through it. And I have been wondering why we show wickedness to each other like that. We are begging and appealing to the government. This road cannot be left like that. Easter celebration is at hand. Just go there and feel the agony of the motorists and travellers going through there. Some spend hours before they can escape the pain of the gridlock. We want a better road. This road construction has been on for too long. Should we continue to suffer like that? Why can’t those concerns assist in easing the traffic menace?

I wish the governor can meet with the president and explain to him, because he uses the road too. He knows what people are going through daily. I am concern because I have personally witnessed the hardship myself.

Ude Okomayin, Fashion designer
Let me say that I regretted passing through the road recently. As far as the road is concerned, there is no aerial patrol of the road. And people are steadily suffering on the road.

Kidnapping and other criminal activities are common on that part of the road, so, where is the security? Why should Nigerians be allowed to languish in such agony? Did we offend anybody in this country? President Buhari has travelled out for a medical check-up.

My worry is that if the Londoners ask him, how are Nigerians coping, he will tell them they are doing wonderfully well; is that not crass hypocrisy? Or how do you want me to describe the situation? Your citizens are facing a terrible situation and you are somewhere receiving medical attention.

If all of us are sick and we all decide to stroll out, won’t there be calamity? We want a government that has value for its citizens. This should not be accepted. I recall that there was a time they said they were dualizing the Karish-Gwagwalada road as an alternative route.

The pressure and volume of people on that road is heavy. We are saying the reconstruction on the road is causing so much pain to the people. Attention should be given to the road so that we can all live in peace. We are even tired of complaints. Government should wake up and take up action to ensure people don’t get to sleep and go through pains to earn a living.

We are suffering because we lack government that showed concern for things that affect us. The government people and most especially their children hardly use the road. So, that is why you see that they can be very unconcerned.

Adegboye Olayinka, Medical equipment dealer
The challenge with the road has been on for a long time. The Federal Government has a responsibility concerning the road.

For them to have abandoned the project like that has really done serious damage to the psyche of people using the road on a daily basis.

Businesses and other economic activities have been put to notorious abeyance. Lives and properties are under serious threat. We hear of kidnapping on that axis of the road. This lack of interest on the road is worsening the situation.

There are lots of accidents too on the road. It seems no proper attention has been devoted to the road. We are demanding that the government should swing into action.

Let the reconstruction work be done as soon as possible so that Nigerians can resume their normal life. We have been held hostage by those working on the road. We are calling for urgent attention.

People have died in the course of constructing the road. We should not continue like this as a people. They should fix the road and allow us to ply it in good condition. They are making us feel like we don’t have government. This is bad and should not be supported by anyone.

Why can’t there be another link road in this modern time? Why are we still acting like all is well when we know that this is road deteriorating daily? Remember, this is a major link road to South-West, East, and South-South.

The revenue generated from that road is something government should put into consideration. The Federal Government should act fast on the road. This is becoming very unbearable.

There should be concern from the government so that travelers will not keep sleeping on the road. We should be more reasonable at times.

Abuja-Lokoja highway project to be completed before December says Director

I know the government is making people believe they are doing something, but the fact is that most government officials also used the road and they can feel the challenge on it too.

Onoja Steven, Businessman
The issue of this Abuja-Lokoja road has been ongoing for a long time. The government has promised to dualize the road for a very long time now, right from President Obasanjo to this very one.

We have had different presidents since that time till now, and it appears it has been the same stories of promises and what have you. Should we continue like this? They have continued to give promises, and yet the road has remained the way it is.

Go and see what challenge travellers are experiencing daily just to cross from Gwagwalada. Some out of frustration had to return to Abuja. There is no reason why the repairs they say they are doing on it should remain up till this moment. I believe they should have a factor in the people that might be traveling during the Easter celebration.

I cringe seeing children having to spend the night on the road because of the reconstruction. Why is there no attentive route to lessen the traffic? That should have been the ideal thing. Government should wake up and take the citizens seriously for once. We should not be talking about the road by now.

The work on it now should have been concluded. We don’t monitor projects here in this country. And, this attitude of not holding contractors liable for not doing their part of the bargain should be revisited. It is sad and unfortunate.

The stretch of the road is riddled with potholes. There are accidents on the road, and you will be surprised that they are under-reported at times. Just a little mishap, the road is under the pressure of people having to the sleep over.