ISAAC SHOBAYO writes that one of the laudable projects in Jos, Plateau State capital, has been abandoned and taken over by criminals who use it as their terror base.
THE present administration in Plateau State, like those of other states across the country no doubt, inherited quite a number of uncompleted projects strewn across the state. The administration, particularly, got some projects from its predecessors, especially the administration of former Governor Jonah Jang.
Though the state governor, Simon Lalong, has made spirited efforts to complete some of these projects, many of them are still begging for attention. The uncompleted projects include the Maraban Jarma flyover at the state secretariat junction. Others are the flyover and adjourning roads at Akila Manchung, to Utonkon and Keana areas within the state capital.
Sunday Tribune findings revealed that immediate past administration conceived the Utonkon flyover project and started it in 2011 as part of the measure to ease traffic congestion and to provide alternative road for motorists heading towards Abbatoir and Rayfield areas from the city centre instead of driving through the highway.
The project which experts said is about 55 per cent completed has been abandoned since 2014. However, the general expectation was that the uncompleted project would be among the top priority projects of Governor Lalong during his first term in office considering the importance of the flyover and the road. However, four years down the line the roads and the uncompleted flyover have remained abandoned.
Investigations by Sunday Tribune revealed that the flyover in particular has become a source of worry and nightmare to residents of the area as it is now a rendezvous for all sorts of criminals who congregate in the evenings to terrorise residents and road users within the area. Cases of molestation, harassment, snatching of bags, phones and other valuables within the vicinity is no longer news to those who are familiar with the surrounding.
Mr. Ayuba Dachom who resides close to the flyover said the uncompleted project coupled with the abandoned roads in the area have turned out to be sources of worries to residents.
“It was a thing of joy when the past administration started the project but our joy was short-lived when it became an abandoned project and the present administration refused to accord the flyover and roads deserved attention and priority. The flyover in particular has become a hideout and rendezvous for criminals where all manners of evils are perpetrated.
“Quite a lot of people including the landlords have since moved out of this area due to constant harassment by the marauders. Their nefarious activities have made many to abandon the road especially in the night. We have reported to the law enforcement agencies without positive response. Our strong belief is that if government could complete the roads and the flyover it would stem the rate of crime in this area,” Dachom told Sunday Tribune.
A woman who runs a provision store in the area who did not want her name in print told Sunday Tribune that her shop had been burgled twice this year alone by the criminal elements who often hang around the flyover adding that for fear of being attacked she no longer operates beyond 7:00 pm.
It was also gathered that criminals who disguise as commercial tricycle operators and some notorious taxi drivers, often referred to as «One chance» often divert to the area in order to rob their victims.
When Sunday Tribune visited the site of the uncompleted projects, young boys and girls were seen in possession of hard substances such as hemp, hard gins and other dangerous substances. During school hours, secondary school pupils who escape from adjoining schools also cluster under the flyover.
When contacted Sunday Tribune visited the state Ministry of Works to get officials to speak of the condition of the flyover, none of them was willing to make any comment. A senior official in the ministry who craved anonymity told Sunday Tribune: «We are civil servants; we cannot tell you anything concerning that project. I will advise you to wait until a commissioner is appointed for the ministry. But all I can tell you is that the project has been captured in this year’s budget.»
Going through the breakdown of this year’s budget, Sunday Tribune discovered that a total sum of N200 million was earmarked for the project. A couple of civil servants who spoke with our correspondent said they were not convinced about the inclusion of the amount in the budget for this year, noting that this has become an annual ritual since Governor Lalong was elected in 2015.
One of them said: «We are not moved that it was captured in the 2019 budget, until the contractor is mobilised to site and the work continues even up to completion stage.»
Dr. Ibrahim Omeiza, a don, who lives in the community appealed to the state government to ensure that the project is completed on time, adding that the location of the flyover is too strategic for it to be abandoned.
«It is an eyesore that for close to six years such a laudable project could be abandoned within the state capital. Governor Lalong should consider the importance, the purpose and the benefits of the project. It is just not good to leave projects like this (uncompleted) within the state capital, government needs to act fast,” he said.
Gyang Musa who is a commercial driver said if completed, the flyover and the roads will further open up the area and the state capital adding that it would also serve as alternative road and at the same time reduce traffic congestion along old airport junction.
«We are, therefore, appealing to the state government to complete the project. The benefits to be derived from it are enormous. It will also boost the image of the present administration,» he said.
Another resident, Timothy Dauda implored security agencies in the state to extend security surveillance to the area pending when the flyover would be completed adding that it is also an embarrassment that such a very sensitive project in the heart of Jos has become an abandoned project.