Residents of Gonin-gora in Kaduna State have decried the increasing rate of accidents along the high way, calling on the state government to as a matter of urgency construct an over-head bridge to salvage the situation.
Gonin-gora is a town located along Kaduna-Abuja express way at Chikun Local Government Area. The town is a major transit route for travellers from Abuja or Niger through Kaduna to Zaria or Kano.
Residents of the area decried what they called over-speeding by motorists on the road, saying many people have lost their lives along the route. According to them, constructing an overhead bridge will provide an alternative route for pedestrians.
Mrs. Dupe Olatunbosun, who owns a shop by the road in Gonin-gora said, “The rate at which drivers speed on this road is alarming without considering that they are in a settlement. This same road is used by the old and young, market women and even children. There are always accidents on the road and they are usually fatal.
“Drivers do not reduce their speed when they approach this settlement; not minding that the town is crowded with people. Often, they crash into pedestrians who are crossing the road. Many people have died as a result of such accidents, so we are appealing to government to do something about the road. Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should be present along this road to arrest reckless drivers,” she said.
Another resident, Mr. Samuel Barnabas, said he recently lost his neighbour to accident on that road. “A speeding car ran into him while he was trying to cross the road and before he could be rushed to the hospital, he died,” he said.
He urged Governor Nasir El-Rufai to consider their plea for an over-head bridge to salvage the situation.
“Government can construct the overhead bridge and introduce a task force to mandate every pedestrian to use it and as well fine those who violate the law.