Following yesterday’s tanker explosion at Felele in Kogi state which killed more than 30 persons mostly students and puils, governor Yahaya Bello has asked the federal government to repair the roads under its jurisdiction in the state.
Speaking when he paid a visit to Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, in Abuja on Wednesday, Bello attributed the accidents and many others to the state of federal roads in the state.
Onogwu Muhammed, chief press secretary to the governor, quoted Bello as saying his administration has done a lot in maintaining the roads but these repairs do not last because of the high volume of traffic the state records.
The governor urged the minister to expedite action in rehabilitating the roads in the state to prevent further accidents.
Bello reportedly told the minister that on July 26, he had to help in controlling traffic on the Abuja-Lokoja road as a result of a damaged portion on the Murtala bridge.
On his part, the minister said he has instructed the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to fix bad portion at the Felele axis.
Fashola said his ministry would use the remaining part of the year to meet Bello’s request in respect of federal roads in the state.
The poor shape of federal roads across various parts of Nigeria is causing travelers and motorists a lot of difficulties, increasing travel time and reducing Nigeria’s tourism potentials.
