Experts have offered possible solutions associated with road construction, maintenance and mass transportation systems by tendering suggestions to potential winners of the forthcoming 2023 general election.
Musa Abdullahi Sufi, Director and Technical lead Programme Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo while speaking on the 42nd episode of the radio programme ‘Hasken Matasa’ with the theme: Agenda and Priorities for elected officials and electorates with a focus on roads construction, maintenance and mass transportation system, said both the electorates and elected officials have a role to play.
“Electorates have to realise that these leaders are there to serve the general public, they are not an avenue or platform where everyone takes their personal problem, therefore, they should be allowed to use funds for the benefits of all those they are responsible for.
“Officials should be elected based on track records and or feasible manifesto, while also changing the attitude of voting leader into office based on political affiliations, religion or region.
On the part of those vying for office, Sufi said it was time they considered alternative ways of creating funds for their projects instead of relying solely on allocation from the federal government.
“Elected leaders should consider alternative ways of generating capital to fund roads construction and maintenance projects, taxing of companies and other industries is one of such alternative.”
“As for already constructed roads, agencies like Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) should be properly funded so they can offer the best service, as has been reported in the past that underfunding is one major factor that restricts them from working to full potential.”
On the preservation of roads, the director advised the construction of water drainage systems, which disallows water from lodging and causes irreparable damage.
” Construction of water drainage system is also important during road construction because side prevention of flooding of house, social centres and farmlands, it also preserves the road because water will not lodge on it, if it does, the damage may only be fixed through new construction”.
Another guest in the programme, Jamila Musa, youth expert, voluntary service overseas and member of Kano Civil Society Forum has these to say on the subject.
“For more safety and comfort as regards the transportation system, urban transit buses should be introduced to major roads in the cities, leaving motor and tricycles to operate on other parts of towns excluding the highways”
“Wider roads could be constructed after separate lanes are provided for the buses, tricycle and pedestrians respectively. After this has been achieved, strict laws should be put in place and fines imposed on anyone who refused to use the lane designated to them”, she added.
Explaining further she said “bus stops should be constructed at strategic locations along with pedestrian bridges for easy access to other ends of the road by the pedestrians”
“Also, before any road construction, the inhabitants of the area should be consulted, since the project is in their interest, they may have substantial advice to give, in cases where this is not done, the people may consider the project a curse rather than the blessing it is supposed to be”, Jamila explained
“Contractors or road construction companies should be saddled with the responsibility of maintenance soon after completion of any project, with this, portholes and other little things that would cause greater damage can be tackled head-on”
While wrapping up the programme, both guests advised that communities should endeavour to take up some responsibilities with road maintenance instead of waiting on the government and allowing the road to be damaged more in the process, those in charge of road maintenance should be let know to the public in case they have cases to report, the public should avoid burning tyres on the road and other activities capable of causing damage.
And finally, elected leaders should put God at heart, for it will guide them to work consciously with alacrity and efficiency.
Hasken Matasa, which literally translates into “Light of the Youth,” a weekly program on topical youth-oriented issues organised by the Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) and the Youth Society for Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS), is sponsored by the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation (AMG Foundation).
