Geri-Alimi Gridlock: Motorists, residents appeal to Kwara Govt to provide alternative routes
Geri-Alimi gridlock: Motorists, residents appeal to Kwara Govt on alternative routes
NAN-H-33
Gridlock
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, May 8, 2017 (NAN) Some motorists and residents of Ilorin, the Kwara capital, have appealed to the State Government to provide alternative routes following the gridlock created by the construction of the Geri-Alimi underpass.
Some of them, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday, lamented that the government had abandoned alternative routes to ease the pains of the people.
Some of the affected commercial drivers and motorists also decried what they described as unbearable hardship they were subjected to daily since the commencement of the Split Diamond Interchange project (underpass).
They pleaded with the state government to come to their rescue by fixing the alternative routes as earlier promised because the situation was becoming unbearable especially whenever it rained.
A taxi driver, Ishaq Adewole said the situation has become unbearable and financially regrettable for their business as they now waste long and productive hours in traffic.
”We have decided to abandon the Geri-Alimi route and those of us that reluctantly decide to ply it have increased the fare for obvious reasons.
”What we were made to believe before the commencement of the project was that alternative routes that connect Geri Alimi would be rehabilitated to decongest the road when the project commenced.
“This is not the time for us to be arguing whether the project is appropriate or not, we commend the government for it.
“But it has been a harrowing experience for us which has been made worse by the lack of alternative routes that should have been fixed as promised,” Adewole said.
A car owner, Mr Henry Thompson, described the issue as very annoying and insensitive considering the hype that heralded the project.
”Nobody is saying that the government should not be futuristic in its plans and policies but not at the detriment of the masses.
”But to abandon a solution that could have significantly ameliorate the masses’ plight is out of the question and we are hearing nothing again about the alternative routes,” Thompson said.
The Chairman of the Geri Alimi Taxi Drivers Association, simply identified as Alhaji Akeem, said the suffering was too much for his members to bear.
He, therefore, pleaded with the government to fix most of the alternative routes to ameliorate their suffering on the road.
“We have alternative routes to circumvent Geri-Alimi, but they are in bad shapes and we have to burn extra fuel and regularly visit the mechanics at this time of recession.
“On Saturday, the gridlock lasted for several hours till after 9p.m and it was made worse by the rain.
A resident, Seun Olanipekun of Odota area said his life and that of his family have encountered a new dimension since the beginning of the project.
According to him, he usually leaves home as early as 5a.m to beat the traffic but ended up in it when returning from office.
“I work in a bank, if I don’t leave home early I won’t be able to escape the traffic jam, but while returning from office, we still find ourselves in it.
“Our lives are no longer the same since the underpass project started; we can only wish it is completed on time so that we could have our normal lives back.
Also, a trader in Olorunshogo, Mrs Faith Adeoye said the government should come to their aid as her wares had been taken over by the dust as a result of the construction. (NAN)
BAY/ESAN/AFA
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Felix Ajide