The Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government as a matter of urgent public importance to repair the Felele axis of the Abuja – Lokoja Highway to avert future loss of lives in the state.
DAILY POST recalls that over 30 persona last week Wednesday lost their lives while several other sustained degrees of injuries when a tanker exploded along Felele/Lokoja/Abuja road.
The call to address the bad state of the roads in Kogi State was contained in a Motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by the Deputy Speaker and member representing Ankpa I State Constituency, Rt Hon Ahmed Mohammed during the house sitting on Wednesday.
He called on the Federal Government to repair the bad portions on Felele axis of the highway and also to asked the Federal Fire Service and Kogi State Government to equip the Lokoja station fire service to handle any eventuality.
According to him, “Within a space of two days, another calamity also befell a multi-million naira Electronic Shop in Lokoja, which was gutted by fire destroying the entire property in a midnight fire outbreak.
“It is expedient for the assembly to add its voice in urging the appropriate authority to do the needful for the benefit of the people”.
He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his prompt action of visiting the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing in Abuja, Barrister Babatunde Fashola on the very day, the accident occurred in Lokoja to solicit for the attention of the Federal Government on all federal roads in Kogi State.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Matthew Kolawole, said “it is sad for the state to witness such a huge loss in the human capital of the state. It has become necessary for the State Government to erect pedestrian bridges in Felele and Kogi Poly gate to protect the people in the area”.
He said the House as a matter of urgency will visit the Honourable Minister for Works and Housing and the Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service to draw their attention on the importance of the needs of the state at the moment.
At the end, the House observed a minute silence for the departed souls in the accident, praying that God will grant the state and the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
