Some residents of Bwari area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed feelings about the ongoing removal of speed bumps and filling of potholes on the Dutse-Bwari Road.
It can be recalled that before the speed bumps were constructed on the road, the rate of accidents on the road was very high, with numerous deaths recorded, but the construction of the speed bumps reduced the rate of accidents and deaths on the road.
Speaking with some of the residents in the area yesterday, they said although the move to remove the bumps would reduce traffic challenges being experienced by motorists on the road as a result of rainfall, they are scared it would increase the rate of accidents that had reduced on the road.
A civil servant and resident of Bwari town, Mrs Agnes Okechukwu, advised the contractor handling the project to ensure early completion of the work to allow for free flow of traffic, and also they should think of ways that would reduce accidents on the road after the speed bumps have been removed.
She stressed the need for both the Bwari area council authority and the FCT administration to give more priority to road construction and rehabilitation in the area immediately after the rainy season, rather than just filling the damaged areas on the road with scraps from the speed bumps.
A resident of Dutse Saukale, Mr Donald Ichiaku, said that although the filling of the damaged areas on the road after the speed bumps have been removed was a good development, the authority should think of ways to prevent accidents on the road.
“The truth is that I am not in support of the removal of speed bumps on this road, because before they put the speed bumps, we used to record several deaths caused by accidents on this road every week, but since they put the bumps, the accidents reduced.”
“Now that the council decided to remove the speed bumps, I do not know the rationale behind it and I am scared for residents who cross the road on a daily basis. Because this area is residential and speed bumps are very necessary here to save lives of people,” he said.
A resident of Dutse Baupma, Alhassan Dogo, said that the removal of speed bumps from the road, mostly at the Tipper Garage junction, poses danger for people crossing the road on a daily basis, because of the heavy-duty vehicles that often ply the road.
“We do not see the reason the council decides to remove the speed bumps on this road, mostly the tipper garage junction, which is the most dangerous part of this road. We do not know their plans, but they should think of people living in this area and not put their lives in danger,” he said.
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