A Flyover At Rumuokoro Junction Will Do

It is no longer news neither is it an exaggerated story to say that the chaotic human and vehicular traffic situation at Rumuokoro junction has become a menace and is worrisome. On daily basis one witnesses traffic congestion as early as six every morning and commutters and motorists spend more than an hour for a journey ordinarily that would have taken 30 minutes or thereabout.
Some persons have turned the junction into a place for trading activities and motor parks without having regard to other road users and the danger involved. Invariably, the trading activities in and around the junction has made it impossible to gurantee free flow of traffic and traffic policemen find it extremely difficult to effectively control and regulate traffic at the junction.
Of recent, the former CTC Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon Bright Amaehule having seen the difficulties encountered or experienced by travellers on a daily basis, decided to constitute a taskforce with a view to decongesting the area and put a stop to all trading acativities and illegal motor parks which constitute nuisance within that environment and ameliorate the suffering of commuters.
Frankly speaking, taking a careful look into the activities of the taskforce then, one would agree and appreciate that there was positive result recorded. But unfortunately that could not be sustained and the good intention of the CTC chairman was unreasonably thwarted for reasons I do not know. Meanwhile the perennial traffic congestion or situation remains unabated.
As a result of the repulsive traffic situation and its negative impacts, workers do not get to their offices early enough to resume duty neither do they get back home on time after closing from duty. Other road users are not left out; they don’t also get to their destinations on time and this has become a source of worry and concern and as people must not continue to pass through such experience, hence, the need for lasting and permanent solution to the problem.
Without mincing words, Rumuokoro junction is a gateway in and out of Port Harcourt City, the state capital and the Treasure Base of the Nation and so deserves good infrastructural development. There is nothing wrong in comparing Port Harcourt with Abuja and Lagos. After all, money used in developing those areas comes from the state and I don’t see the reason why developing Port Harcourt will be a difficult task.
On this premise, I passionately appeal to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike, to consider it a priority and service to humanity and to the Glory of God to embark on the construction of a standard flyover at Rumuokoro junction. This depicts good governance.
This is similar to Eleme junction that was then impassable, until the then, Governor, His Excellency, Sir Celestine Omehia, came on board and took the bull by the horn and embarked on the construction of flyover at Eleme junction which he awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Julius Berger did not disappoint. Today movement to and fro Eleme junction is as smooth as fresh air. People no longer remember their sufferings and difficulties they underwent as at then and it has now become history.
In my considered opinion, a flyover at Rumuokoro will grant immense and unquantifiable benefits, it shall add more beauty to the Garden City status of Port Harcourt. It will definitely ease human nad vehicular movement and moreso, within the period of its construction, jobs will be created and social vices reduced and then deliver befitting dividends of democracy.
Let me also use this medium to say that His Excellency should have not attempt to embark on any frivolous and political projects that have no positive impact or direct bearing on the people just like the white elephant project of the last administration called “Monorail” which was executed, served as a conduit pipe through which Rivers money amounting to several billions of naira was drained. It is obvious that money sunk into that monorail project would have gone a long way in developing small towns and villages in the state.
I also urge His Excellency, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike to in spite of the financial constraint of the State Government, consider the completion of the shopping mall at GRA Junction started by Sir Celestine Omehia during his tenure, but abandaoned by the past administration for selfish and personal reasons. It is my strong belief that completion of that shopping mall will in no small measure generate massive employment and better the lives of many Rivers people and enhance the economic base of the state.
Nnadi wrote from ONELGA, Rivers State.