Work resumes on uncompleted Gwagwalada township roads
Work has resumed on some abandomed road projects in Gwagwalada several months after work stopped. Construction workers were seen on the ECWA ChurchDemonstration Pilot Science School Road within the council metropolis.
Aso Chronicle, had reported that the road and some others were left uncompleted, causing hardship for residents.
Our reporter observed on Saturday that the two-kilometre road which links to Atlas Junction and to Eco Bank has double drainage system and is being asphalted after the earth works and stone base were done last year.
A cross section of motorists that ply the road who spoke with our reporter have described the rehabilitation of the as a ‘big relief’ to them.
A motorist, Emmanuel Gbenga, said the rehabilitation of the road by the area council authorities would no doubt reduce the hardship residents had been experiencing when the road was in a bad state.
He said the traffic jam along Atlas Junction - University Teaching Hospital road would be a thing of the past once the road was completed.
“In fact , I never thought that this road especially the ECWA Church- Demonstration Pilot Science School road will get the attention of the area council authorities this year again, especially as election is around the corner, but to my surprise, I was driving toward out when I saw work has resumed,” he said.
Another motorist, Abdullahi Yahuza, also stated that the resumption of work by contractors on the road would no doubt address the suffering of residents, especially people that always convey their sick ones to the hospital.
“At least, with the ongoing work on the road, patients can now easily be taken to the hospital, unlike when the road was abandoned last year, “he said.
He commended the chairman of the council, Alhaji Adamu Mustapha, for giving attention to the road, even as he urged him to intensify efforts towards rehabilitating some other roads within the metropolis.
A commercial cyclist, Dauda Iliyasu, said he was impressed with the rehabilitation of the road by the council authorities, noting that cyclists and passengers would soon have a sigh of relief after the completion of the road project.
“In fact, sometimes when passengers stop me for a ride, I feel reluctant just because of the bad state of the road, but today with the ongoing rehabilitation work many cyclists have started plying it despite it is yet to be completed, “he said.
Mrs. Uzo Amaka Ebuka, who has a provision store along the road, said when the road was completed, there would be no dust on it again, saying since rehabilitation work stopped last year, most of her wares and provisions she always displayed outside were dusty.
The Managing Director of the company, (Tessijo Nigeria Limited) who is handling the road project, Eng. Lukman Lawal, said the rehabilitation of the two kilometre-road was awarded to his company since early last year, which he said he ought to have completed but was delayed due to non-release of funds.
He said two weeks ago part of funds were released to him, and he quickly mobilized workers to site, adding he expected to complete work on the road soon.
“We hope to deliver this work before the end of this month or end of December 2018, but it depends on payment,” he said.
The chairman of the council, Alhaji Adamu Mustapha, while speaking to our reporter after he inspected the road on Saturday said, the council was quite aware of the importance of road network within the metropolis.
He said the delay in completing some of the road projects was due to economic downturn, but said the council had within the little resources available to it tried to fix some of the roads, especially the ECWA Church- Pilot Science Primary School road.
According to him, his administration’s priority on road projects was part of his campaign promise during the last council election.
“In fact, the resources are so limited but despite that, we have been able to construct some roads like the One Way road and some rural roads, “he said.
“Despite the challenges of funds, the council has not rested on its oars to ensure that we provide dividends of democracy to our people in Gwagwalada. We have many road projects which are still ongoing within the council and in rural communities, “he said.
Mustapha said the ECWA Church- Pilot Science School road would be completed before the end of December 2018.