The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works to commence the dualization of the Ajaokuta – Itobe – Anyigba, Ankpa, Otukpa road in view of its daily heavy vehicular traffic following a motion on the ‘Urgent Need to Dualise Ajaokuta – Itobe – Anyigba, Ankpa, Otukpa Federal Road in Kogi State.’
The house made the resolution at today’s plenary based on the motion which was moved by the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims and unanimously adopted upon a secondment by Rep. Akin Alabi representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency of Oyo State.
The lawmaker in his motion revealed that the road is a major route for conveying agricultural and other economic products within Kogi State while it also serves as a strategic for movement of motorists and cargoes from the North to the South East and South – South region of the Country.
The Federal Lawmaker recalled that the Ajaokuta – Itobe – Anyigba, Ankpa, Otukpa federal road is about 150 kilometres constructed by the then Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida intended to link the North to South East and other South – South region of the country.
The Federal Lawmaker decried that the recurring fatal accidents on the road were mostly as a result of its narrowness and therefore require dualisation. Rep. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims added that considering that it is a busy and major link to many states of the federation, it has become a haven for kidnappers and armed robbers who serially attack commuters and unsuspecting citizens.
He raised concerns that the heavy vehicular traffic on the road is causing chaos, security challenges, serious inconveniences and danger to road users thereby urging the house to mandate the Committee on Works to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Works to commence the dualization of Ajaokuta – Itobe – Anyigba, Ankpa, Otukpa road.