Abuja-Kaduna road

The mention of Abuja-Kaduna Road sounds like perdition to many. According to some, it is one road that will never be plied. It is an example of sorrow, tears, and blood. This is understandable. It is synonymous with kidnapping. But that is one aspect of the 189.5-kilometer journey.

The road is in such a sorry state. It is littered with craters, not potholes. And anyone driving a salon must have guts. A visit to the mechanic is non-negotiable. And God forbid that your car decides to break down at the stretch of the journey.

My romance with the road dates back to 2014. I enrolled in a master’s degree program that burdened me with commuting between Abuja and Kaduna every week. We could travel at any time of the day before its present notorious status.

It’s a passable road, and everyone is happy. But about six years back, it deteriorated so severely that commuters suffered from psychological and physical trauma—the fear of kidnappers and the jumpy, bumpy ride. But we persevered, and God helped us.

Some days back, I was billed to be in Kaduna. And I reflected on the state of the road. I needed to be in Kaduna, and there was no alternative. I hit the road in anticipation of a jumpy, bumpy ride. But I was shocked. From the intersection from Jere leading to the expressway, I was prepared to dodge the craters and trailers. But as I trudged, I was in amazement. What is happening here? I asked no one in particular.

This is aside from the return to normalcy of the security situation on that stretch. I learned that the defense headquarters took the stretch as its area of responsibility in a joint military operation. Operation Whirl Punch. The defense headquarters is tripartite—the army, navy, and air force. Joint military operations are better. There are notable examples. Operation Sweep in Lagos. A joint police and army venture that helped reduce Lagos’ notorious crime rate. Operation Zaki in Kaduna State was also noteworthy, among many others.

Sometimes, it feels like leadership is about commonsense—a sound judgment in practical matters. The decision to fill the craters on the Abuja-Kaduna Road pending a complete overhaul was commonsense. Now, we can travel without fear of losing tires or vehicles coming to a halt.

Whoever it was that was behind the quick fix of the Abuja-Kaduna Road deserves commendation. Yes, Julius Berger is working round the clock to deliver a rejuvenated stretch; minor quick fixes would go a long way in reducing the trauma commuters face on that road. That was my experience. And it’s far-reaching.

If this method is applied to critical sectors of our socioeconomic life, the gains would be innumerable. Making quick fixes is not a contravention of the Constitution. Quick fixes can resolve issues rapidly, saving precious time that would otherwise be spent in extensive troubleshooting or waiting for expert assistance.

We need some quick fixes in Nigeria. The political leadership in the country must come to terms with this reality. It is not rocket science. It is ingenuity. It is the ability to think of clever new ways of doing something.

I will wait to give this administration a pass mark. Its vision is still unfolding. Even though some have scored it low, it was done in haste. The quantum of rot is not such that it could be cleared in months. The question is, are there indices? The answer is yes. Even though overshadowed by political intrigues. It doesn’t take away that fact.

Dave Umahi, the minister of works, must have orchestrated the Abuja-Kaduna Road quick fix. I hear he travels by road. Maybe he has traveled the Abuja-Kaduna stretch and could not fathom why commuters travel in such a horrendous state while quick fixes could be made. If Dave Umahi was responsible for that, I commend him. If it was someone else, I also commend that individual or group.

This is a worthy example if we desire sustainable growth and development. A long-time friend and benefactor corroborated this. Linda Temienor-Vincent facilitated my first pay cheque as an undergraduate. She worked at Orion Technologies, the operators of the Lagos Lotto at the time.

I was just a curious chap who, on a day, decided to saunter into their office on Awolowo Road in Ikoyi with an idea I felt could improve the audience participation in their game show “E Fit be you Oh.” She allowed me to meet with the managing director, and the rest is history.

We have remained in touch in the past 19 years. We share thoughts and ideas about the Nigerian project. It was easy to share the Abuja-Kaduna road experience with her. And her thoughts were in sync with the quick-fix narrative.

Some months back, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, told the newly inaugurated ministers that the nation needs a quick fix to the socioeconomic challenges confronting Nigeria. I agree and pray that those saddled with positions of authority come to this realization.

Time is of the essence. The situation is excruciating. No one is immuned, but for the date of manifestation. So, shall we then continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid.

Ocheja, a military historian and doctoral researcher, can be reached via [email protected]