Babatunji Wusu –
David Umahi, Minister of Works, has dismissed charges tying the recent reconstruction of the Eleme portion of the East-West Road to the terrible incident last Friday that killed five people and destroyed 120 automobiles.
Speaking to press on his visit to the tanker fire site in Eleme, Umahi advocated for increased road safety measures, such as checkpoints to monitor driver substance misuse.
This visit comes after Governor Siminalayi Fubara described the tragedy as “avoidable carnage” and confirmed the casualties and substantial vehicle damage.
In his condolences, Umahi said he understood the relatives of the victims and the people of Rivers State, calling the situation a great tragedy.
Umahi dismissed the claims as inflammatory and erroneous made by the head of a local group, who laid the blame for the tragedy on the federal government and the building business.
There is a bridge there that we are reconstructing, and the diversion we created last year is over 16 meters wide, which is where vehicles are currently routed,” Umahi explained, dismissing claims that the rehabilitation work caused the accident.
He recalled an initiative by President Bola Tinubu, who upon assuming office, prioritized the rehabilitation of this heavily trafficked road.
The minister detailed the extensive construction efforts aimed at ensuring the road’s durability, including significant structural enhancements to accommodate the heavy traffic and poor soil conditions.
“The 15 kilometers road dualized for six lanes is about the heaviest traffic road in the country. We are implementing a robust design to ensure it lasts a minimum of 100 years considering the load it’s carrying,” Umahi stated.
The minister blamed the inferno on reckless driving and a fatal race for right-of-way between two vehicles, which resulted in a catastrophic collision involving a trailer and a petrol tanker.
He underlined the importance of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) implementing severe checkpoints to monitor and control the effects of hard substances and drugs on drivers, which he believes led to the drivers’ reckless behavior.
Umahi’s visit also included a review of the continuing construction work, confirming the quality of the work and discussing plans to speed up the inauguration of other portions of the road.
He reaffirmed that the government will make sure contractors follow tight deadlines, with the exception of coastal roads, which take longer to complete because of their intricacy.
Umahi further guaranteed that every effort is being made to stop similar occurrences in the future. This is in line with President Tinubu’s aim of shortening the time needed for national projects to be built while improving infrastructure quality and safety.
