Accelerate Work On Lokoja/Benin/Niger Toads, Reps Tell FG

ABUJA – The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently step up works on the Lokoja/Felele/Benin/Lagos expressway to avoid the frequent road accidents along the routes, which often lead to the loss of lives and injuries to road users.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved during Wednesday’s plenary by the member representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, Suleiman Aguye.

Moving the motion, Aguye lamented that in 2025 alone, “Over 10 accidents have occurred on the Lokoja/Nataco/ Felele expressway, leading to the avoidable and sad loss of many precious lives, especially students.

He said :“These accidents in the said road leave many others sustaining various degrees of injuries including incapacitation in significant numbers.”

He recalled that on Monday, February 17, 2025, “A very tragic accident occurred involving about 10 students of the Federal University of Lokoja alongside the driver conveying them as an articulated truck carrying wood rammed into the school shuttle bus conveying students, leading to the loss of their lives.”

He also recalled that along the route, “Many students of Kogi State Polytechnic and residents of Lokoja, neighbouring Felele and immediate communities or travellers have met their untimely death, regularly.”

The lawmaker blamed over speeding and reckless driving by truck and tanker drivers for the frequent accidents, stressing that “If nothing is done to salvage the worrisome situation, it may result in a continued loss of innocent lives on a large scale.”

He emphasised the need for the urgent construction of a by-pass, flyover bridge and expansion of the road as part of measures to curtail the further loss of innocent and productive lives on the one-kilometre stretch on the highway and mitigation against future occurrence.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Works in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency to expedite the expansion of the road and construct a flyover with complementary pedestrian bridges along the road for use by students and other citizens.

It further called for the restriction of the movement of trailers and trucks within Lokoja and its metropolis to only night operations from 10 PM to 6 PM to ensure safety and enhance traffic management.

In a related development, the House called on the Ministry of Works to prioritise and fast-track the ongoing reconstruction of the Bida–Agaie-Lapai–Lambata-Suleja road to ease vehicular movements, mitigate traffic congestion and reduce the need for tankers to park along major roads on the route.

The resolution was a sequel to the adoption of a motion on “Need to address the incessant parking of petroleum/articulated vehicles in Bida, Niger State, to avert impending dangers that could result in more deaths,” moved by the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Niger State, Saidu Abdullahi.

Abdullahi while speaking on the motion recalled that youth groups in Bida have written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives to convey their reservations over the indiscriminate parking of petroleum and articulated vehicles along major roads in the town which has resulted in severe safety and environmental risk.

He said, “The recent tragic tanker explosion at Diko Junction in Niger State, which claimed numerous lives and destroyed properties, highlights the grave danger posed by improperly parked tankers and the urgent need for regulatory enforcement to prevent similar occurrences.

“The House is aware that associations, including Nupe Excel, Landzun Youth Development Association, Bida 70s, and Eid Youth Association Bida, have raised alarm over the dangers posed by these parked tankers, including an increase in road accidents, environmental hazards from flammable substances, traffic congestion, and growing security concerns.

“The Niger State Government in a bid to proffer lasting solution and mitigate the danger posed by these articulated vehicles has despite endless needs competing for its scarce resources, embarked on the construction of a 44km dual carriage ring road -bypass with complimentary infrastructures including a Trailer Transit Park around Bida.”

He added that the abandonment of the Mokwa-Makera-Tegina-Birnin Gwari – Kaduna route due to activities of bandits, kidnappers and the deteriorating nature of the road has resulted in more traffic on the Bida-Agaie-Lapai_Lambata-Suleja route.

Abdullahi who is the deputy chairman, House Committee on Finance further lamented that the slow pace of the reconstruction of the Bida-Suleja road despite an alternative funding source through the Road Infrastructure tax credit Scheme “Has contributed hugely to the indiscriminate parking of tankers along major roads on the route, thereby worsening traffic congestion and increasing the risk of accidents.”

The House in its resolution, urged the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to continuously engage and sensitise the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, National Association of Road Transport Owners to always adhere to safety standards.

It also called for collaboration between the Federal Government agencies and the Niger State Government to provide well-structured parking facilities in major towns along the route from Jebba to Suleja particularly in Bida and Lambata to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow.

It also called on the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise and fast-track the ongoing reconstruction of the Bida–Agaie-Lapai–Lambata-Suleja road to ease vehicular movements, mitigate traffic congestion and reduce the need for tankers to park along major roads on the route.

The House urged the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise the security and reconstruction of the Mokwa-Makera-Tegina-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road.

House also urged security agencies to enhance patrol and monitoring of the high-risk areas to prevent security breaches and possible threats to the lives of Bida residents.