Nigeria: Our Roads Are Pregnant -By Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed

It is of utmost priority to the government of any country to provide a standard social amenities such as stable electricity; drinkable waters, sound health facilities among others. Looking at our country, many a road here has been the most used channel of transportation for various business activities. How do you expect a petty trader with a low capital to use ship or plane to convey goods to his rustic hamlet. Certainly, it is impossible.

If it is so, it means that a good road is an inevitable asset for economic boom. It then arises, what’s the state of the Nigerian roads? It is no news that all and sundry are aware of the nether pose in which they are and this has to a large extent impeded the growth of agriculture as peasant find it cumbersome to bring his annual yeild to the urban cities where it will be valued by “hungry wovles” who fiscal economists called “the consumers”.

Roads are quintessential, I must confess. While working on a reserach early this year, I came across a press release in my late dad’s library from the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC ) which revealed that “4,373 people died as a result of 9698 auto crashs” in the year 2019. You will concur with me that innocent lives are lost daily due to the cheapo nature of our roads.

Have you travelled around New Bussa of Niger State? Have you been to Abia State before? It is pellucid if you have been to any of them. Niger State has a worst road network while Abia State is one hilarious irony of human creation. Don’t be astounded if I divulge that the Nigerian spots of commerce (Lagos and Kano States) are not even excluded despite their boisterousness.

Not only that pot holes have taken over the mantle of leadership of this road but also erosion, it had eaten deep into the tar that covered the ‘long threads’. Weather is also an active antagonist liikewise ample other factors.

Thus, this piece is a clear call to all: our governments; the opulent individuals, the non-governmental organizations and even the comman man that OUR ROADS ARE PREGNANT!

***NOTA BENE: A GRAMMAR CORNER
> “Water” is though an uncountable noun which should not be pluralised, it could be if it meant various sources of water like tap, river, rain and et cetera. Still in doubt? You can DM the author. Check below.

About the Writer
Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed is a Nigerian bilingual writer, professional editor, legal researcher, reporter and tutor. He is a campus journalist of the prestigious Pen Press of Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto State and he is an 100 level law student of the citadel. He is from Offa, a prominent town in Kwara State. His works are ample online.

He can be reached through email: muhammedtaoheed19@gmail.com.