Speed Cameras To Be Introduced On Nigerian Roads – FG

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who said this while ongoing repair works on the different sections of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, added that the devices will help the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) curtail excessive speeding by motorists and improve safe use of the roads.

Fashola expressed delight on the level of progress being made in the construction of the road, ahead of the planned closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and diversion of air traffic to the Kaduna Airport.

In a statement by the minister’s Senior Special Adviser on Communication, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Fashola explained that majority of road accidents are cause by irresponsible driving by unqualified motorists.

The minister promised his ministry’s support to the FRSC to improve safe use of roads in the country, by the introduction of speed cameras to discourage people from excessive speeding

“I think that it is fair to say that not many people who manage vehicles on our roads are actually trained to manage vehicles on the roads; many people are auxiliary drivers for want of something better to do. There are rules in the operation and utilisation of automobiles,” said Fashola.

On the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, the minister said the work was an emergency repair to remove the potholes and not a reconstruction which he said would come later after an ongoing procurement exercise on it is concluded.

“The work that is being done here, you must understand this is a road of more than 160 kilometres. We are at kilometre 130 from Abuja. So, the work that is being done as I said is an emergency intervention essentially to remove the dangerous potholes and eliminate potential hazards that could cause accidents for motorists on this road.

“So, the road needs to be rebuilt because it has been subjected to a lot of axle load. But what we are doing right now is emergency repairs to remove the potholes to make the road safe for commuters ahead of the planned reconstruction and repair of the Abuja Airport runway which will lead to a diversion of air traffic and passengers from Abuja to Kaduna which will start on the 8th of March.

“You can see that some sections have been resurfaced completely but that is not the main reconstruction of the road; let us be clear about what is happening here.

“The whole purpose of this contract is to cover the potholes on the 160 kilometres road two lanes on one side and two lanes on the other side; so that is really to cover 620 kilometres of potholes; that is a contract for N1 billion.

“So, let’s be clear about that. This is emergency short term. When the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) gives the no objection contract, we will start when the airport runway would have been completed,” he said.