The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has called on the federal government to urgently rehabilitate the Oyo-Ogbomosho highway to avert the explosion of petroleum products from trucks as recorded in Jigawa State.
The President of NARTO, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, made this known in a letter addressed to the Minister of Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. David Umahi, titled: ‘Urgent Attention Needed on Oyo-Ogbomoso Highway,’ which drew the government’s attention to the worsening state of the road.
The NARTO boss insisted that urgent and immediate attention on the road have become expedient to forestall colossal damage of lives and property.
“We wish to commend the federal government for its commendable efforts to rehabilitate roads and highways across the country, however, we write to bring to your esteemed attention the worsening condition of the Oyo-Ogbomoso Highway, which has been holding traffic to a standstill for several days.”
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The NARTO president said Oyo-Ogbomoso Highway plays a significant role in Nigeria’s economic and social development, serving as a key artery for the movement of goods, passengers, and essential services between the northern and southern part of the country.
According to him, the highway’s deteriorating condition has caused severe gridlock, resulting in extended travel delays, economic losses, and heightened safety risks.
He recalled that the Soun of Ogbomoso, H.H. Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye had to personally assist with some palliative work to make the road motorable at some time in the past.
He disclosed that the consequences of the state of the road collapse are felt not just by NARTO members but by the entire population that depends on the road for their daily activities.
Describing the road as perilous, he reminded the government of the inflammable products that are stranded in the middle of nowhere and how disastrous their explosion could be.
“We would like to draw your attention, particularly to the risk of traffic gridlocks involving tankers transporting inflammable materials. The potential for accidents is high under the current conditions, and the consequences could be catastrophic. As we have sadly seen in the past, most notably with the tragic Incident in Jigawa State where more than 90 lives were lost, the failure to address road conditions can lead to unnecessary and preventable disasters.”
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