By Ajuluchukwu Brown, Abuja
Abuja residents have commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the ChinaAid project in Nigeria for the installation of traffic lights at major junctions in the metropolis.
The major junctions are Herbert Macaulay Way by Kashim Ibrahim Way and Herbert Macaulay Way by Duala Street in Wuse.
Other junctions in the Central Area, Secretariat, Defence headquarters, and War college, now have new Solar powered traffic lights.
According to residents, the installation of the new traffic light will curb traffic congestion which is gradually becoming a norm on major roads within the city centre.
Commending the efforts, a resident, Kadiri Ahmed said: “Poor maintenance culture has always been the issue. There were traffic lights installed in 2010 and 2015 , but they were not maintained which led to their decay. This is commendable because it will ease off the stress of traffic officers, we only hope they will be adequately maintained by the government.”
A commuter, Titus Osakunrin, who also commended the installation, said: “I first saw the contractors working around the Central Business District (CBD) before coming down to Wuse. It is exciting to see the effort made by the administration to return Abuja to its glory. Traffic lights used to be at all junctions of the city centre and even in some satellite areas, but gradually they got bad and were abandoned. This ChinaAid project has come in time because our roads are congested. It is commendable.”
Another commuter, Teeso Haav, revealed that accidents have been on the increase since the old faulty traffic lights were abandoned.
He said: “Thankfully there have been no fatal accidents recorded but there are minor ones that the traffic light would have helped prevent. Nigerians are impatient people but they respect traffic lights. Traffic wardens are humans; they get tired and leave their jobs unattended. Another thing is that will add to the aesthetics of the city. Abuja is known for its beauty at nighttime, this definitely will bring that lost glow.”
Speaking on the project, the site engineer, Victor Adejoh said: “This is phase 2, of the ChinaAid project in Nigeria. Currently, we have a target of installing 98 junctions within the FCT. The Installation is starting with the City centre before going to the satellite towns like Karo, Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Kuje and others.
“ The foundation for the traffic lights has been installed in all 98 junctions. The traffic lights are Solar powered, they are superior to the previously installed lights. The project started in March 2022, we rounded off the foundation, the visibility study, and now the installation. We have installed new traffic lights at over 30 junctions already within the FCT.”
He lamented that hoodlums are already vandalising the newly installed traffic lights.
“The menace of vandalism is the major problem we have at the moment. Vandals are already carting away the newly installed lights. I urge residents to desist from vandalising infrastructures that benefit them. If any vandal is spotted, they should report to the security agencies for appropriate action,” he added.
Source: The Guardian
