Federal Government says it is now determined, more than ever before, to repossess setbacks or right-of-way measuring about 45 meters from the central line of federal highways nationwide. This determination and the subsequent action spell end of road for all the businesses that have taken over these setbacks.
The government says it has considered this move urgent and necessary because, as the minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, puts it, trading on the highways has slowed down work on them and is detrimental to the smooth and unhindered vehicular traffic and safety of road users. Those involved in this practice have been warned to voluntarily vacate these right-of-ways or be forced to do so, as the government was already developing strategies for repossessing all these right-of-ways.
To ensure that this is not an empty threat, “government intends to meet with all the Controllers of Works across the 36 states of the federation to agree on new guidelines in managing the nation’s highways,” Fashola said, adding that “such guidelines would include those that would promote safety and clearing of the right-of-way.”
The minister was surprised that some roads were covered by vehicles and tankers on both sides, limiting the movement of vehicles and commuters, saying, “I am through this medium appealing to all those who are occupying our rights of way to voluntarily vacate them or we will take it by force.”
Recently, the minister went on inspection of the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway during which he tasked contractor handling the work on both speed of work and safety on the expressway, stressing that the busy expressway needed to be ready at this year’s end.
He also inspected the ongoing dualisation of the Oyo-Ogbomosho road, where he directed that, though the contractors were faced with some constraints such as unpredictable weather and traffic management, they must plan their work in such a way that would ensure a more tolerable driving experience during the festivities and general safety on the roads.
“You must plan your work in such a way that you’re able to accommodate traffic and also help to make the journey time of commuters better during that period. They will be travelling home and coming back, and I also will like you to improve the safety signs on this highway,” the minister told the contractors.
The Muslim festival, Eid-el-Kabir, is around the corner and the universal Christian end of the year Christmas and the New Year are fast approaching, hence the minister’s plea to the contractors to plan to accommodate the expected high volume of traffic from those events.
“Start calibrating your activities to prepare to take in that traffic; it will come, but the big one will come, I think, sometime at the end of the year when everybody is moving back home. The target is to make that experience better than last year’s,” Fashola said.
