The House of Representatives has suggested the ban and restriction of trailers and trucks within Lokoja the capital of Kogi State and its metropolis to only night operations from 10pm to 6am in order to ensure safety and enhance traffic management.
The House also urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Works in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency (FERMA) to expedite the expansion of the road and construction of a flyover with complimentary pedestrian bridges for use by the people.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a “Motion of Urgent Public Importance on the Need to Intervene on the Constant Accidents on the Lokoja/Felele/Benin/Lagos expressway”, moved By Mr. Danladi Suleiman Aguye at plenary.
The House notes that Lokoja, has borders with over ten (10) States, connecting the Eastern, Western, Southern and Northern region.
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Leading the debate on the motion, Mr. Aguye said that the major trunk road accommodates hundreds of vehicles on a daily basis connecting different destinations and in the wisdom of the State Government and under the leadership of the Executive Governor of Kogi State, the international market located along the road has been relocated as part of urgent efforts to decongest the road and curtail threat to lives from frequent accidents.
“Aware that Section 14(2b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) affirms the sanctity of the welfare and security of the citizens as a core purpose of government;
“Worried that within 2025 alone, over ten accidents have occurred on the Lokoja/Nataco/ Felele expressway, leading to the avoidable and sad loss of many precious lives, especially students;
“Also worried that these accidents in the said road leave many users with various degrees of injuries including incapacitation in significant numbers.
“Concerned that on Monday, 17th of February, 2025, a very tragic accident occurred involving about ten (10) students of the Federal University of Lokoja alongside the driver conveying them as an articulated truck carrying woods rammed into the school shuttle bus conveying students, leading to the loss of their lives;
“Also concerned that along this particular route, many students of Kogi State Polytechnic and residents of Lokoja, neighbouring Felele and immediate communities or travelers have met their untimely death, on a regular basis” the motion said.
The lawmaker said that the House is also disturbed that, the tragic accident has become a reoccurring decimal and has put the residents of the area and travellers along the route in perpetual fear.
“Also disturbed that over speeding or reckless driving by truck and tanker drivers has been identified mainly as the cause of repeated accidents leading to loss of lives of people and travelers in the area;
“Further disturbed that, if nothing is done to salvage the worrisome situation, it may result in a continued loss of innocent lives on a large scale;
“Cognizant of the need that the speedy construction of the by-pass, flyover bridge and expansion of the road is part of measures to curtail further loss of innocent and productive lives on the one- kilometer stretch on the highway and mitigate against future occurrence’. He said.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas mandated the House Committee on Works, FERMA, Transport and legislative compliance to ensure the implementation of the resolutions and report progress back to the house in two weeks for further legislative actions.
The House also observed one minute silence in honour of all those who lost their lives in the accident.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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