By Francis Ogwo
There have been loud applauses by motorists and residents on the completion of Nigeria’s longest rigid pavement located in Kogi State by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
The management of the group had issued a statement on Sunday on the completed 43 km project which according to them is under the corporate social responsibility list of the group.
According to the Project Director, Olatunbosun Kalejaiye, while expressing excitement on the completion of the road, was of the view that the potholes and bad portions of the road which were synonymous with Obajana to Kabba is now a thing of the past.
A reporter, Kamsi Ahamefula, told KaftanPost in a telephone interview that the road should be replicated around the country as it represents the way forward for road construction in the country.
“I passed through the road today and saw something different. I haven’t driven on roads in the United States or other advanced countries but I felt like that today with the solid construction done.
“For a long time some of us avoided the Obajana routes because armed robbers usually attacked our buses because of the way we slowed down at potholes and deep ponds on the road. Infact, if the government can replicate this concrete roads around the country, the rate of accidents will reduce,” Ahamefula added.
Another respondent, a horticulturist resident in Kabba, Uche Igwe, said the road is an eye opener to what quality road construction should be.
In his words: “I have always known concrete to be a very strong mixture but never saw this it’s usage at that magnitude.
“I wonder how Nigerian roads will look like if we had concrete construction streching across the regions. Infact, it’s a master piece.
The Bajana of Obajana Land, King Idowu Senibi, in his remarks described the project as gigantic and a pace setter.
“This is a great opportunity for us and many generations to come. Our society will be opened as you can see vehicles and commercial activities have started coming up. May God Almighty bless Dangote and all his staff,” he stated.
Recall that the 43km Obajana – Kabba Road had over the years been a death trap and nightmare to road users.
Stakeholders, while applauding the effort by Dangote, urged other philanthropists to emulate such gestures towards nation building.
