By every standard, the Federal Capital Territory, with its rapidly growing population and pleasant environment is the most beautiful city in Nigeria.
Though a political and administrative capital, (since all government agencies are now headquartered in Abuja and most countries’ embassies have relocated from Lagos to Abuja) the city is home to all nationalities.
The FCT, which is one of few capitals in the world planned and built from the foundation, has an excellent road network connecting the satellite towns to the central business districts, a beautiful rolling terrain and modern architecture.
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Little wonder, why visitors coming to Abuja from major cities like Lagos, Benin, Kano and Port Harcourt amongst others, to a large extent, admire the road network of the city.
Occasionally, traffic lights stop working during power outages and road marshals are quickly deployed to take charge of strategic intersections in order to ensure the free flow of traffic.
The city also has a few strict driving laws that are enforced. Seat belts are required from both the driver and front seat passenger and failure to obey this law leads to significant inconveniences as the vehicle is impounded until a fine is paid.
However, in the midst of these stateliness is an aspect that has caused so much discomfort to road users. That issue is the challenge of unprotected man holes.
Despite the fantastic road network, the Federal Capital Territory Administration in recent times has not done much in taking care of the manholes channelling water to the drainage system.
This situation has made it difficult for motorists and other road users, to, on the average, navigate the road effectively while driving within the metropolis.
The failure to cover these manholes, often times, lead to accidents and damage of vehicles as motorists find them not visible at nights or during raining season.
Apart from causing accidents, it has also defaced the city because some people now dump refuse inside some of the manholes.
A visit by THE WHISTLER correspondent, shows that they are a lot of unproctected manholes round the city of Abuja,
The areas where these manholes are more noticeable are Ahmadu Bello Way, Ibrahim Babangida Way, Ademola Adetokunbo Road, Aso Drive, Aguiyi Ironsi street, Olateru Olabgegi way, and Ameyo Adadevoh Road among others.
At the Ahmadu Bello way, the manholes are sited at various locations such as the Ministry of Finance Headquarters, Foreign Affairs Headquarters, Federal Secretariat building and other government offices located along that road.
Some of the uncovered manholes have been turned into dumping ground for refuges.
At IBB way, almost all the uncovered manholes are blocked with sand. The uncovered manholes could be seen lined up in places like,
At Aso drive, there are so many uncovered manholes that were seen after the bridge before the building housing the Department of State Service.
At Aguiyi Ironsi street, the unprotected manholes are scattered in front of Nigeria Communication Commission headquarters, Federal Ministry of Power, Merit House and the National University Commission.
For Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, the unprotected manholes are sited opposite Multi-Choice office just beside Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
Experts say that the uncovered manholes pose serious dangers for road users. In some cases, these uncovered manholes have resulted in accidents because at nights and during rains, they become unnoticeable for road users.
Most times, floods collected by the manhole channels are often directed to rivers or other water sources. This drainage helps in preventing flooding, but when they are left uncovered, as it is the case for open drains, wastes collected through these channels may lead to blockage.
Speaking on the unprotected manholes, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board said that steps are being taken to cover them.
The AEPB Director of Information, Mrs Janet Peni told THE WHISTLER in a telephone interview that due to its high value, scavengers have formed the habit of stealing the manholes and selling them for peanuts.
She said the Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello had already constituted a committee to look into the stolen manholes.
She said, “The minister, constituted a committee with one of our directors in charge of liquid holes, which he sent staffs to go round and take inventory of all the manhole covers that were removed and also all the water inspection chambers (drains).
“The committee is done with its work and they have submitted their recommendation to the Minister.
“So we are waiting to hear what the minister will say. Actually, the construction is from Engineering Department, and the chairman of that committee is a director of engineering Department.”