Kwara Lawmakers Condemn Indiscriminate Construction Of Bumps On Government Roads

 

In a press statement released by Sheu Abdulkadir Yusuf, The Cheif Press Secretary to Rt. Hon. Speaker,KWHA which was released on wednesday 28,April 2021 condemns the construction of  indiscriminate bumps on government roads.

The press release as shared by Honourable Ganiyu Abolarin,member representing Ekiti LG at the  state house;

"The Kwara State House of Assembly has frowned at the indiscriminate construction of Bumps and Speed Breakers on Roads across the state.

This followed a motion on notice titled "Indiscriminate Construction of Bumps and Speed Breakers on Roads in Kwara State" moved by a member representing Ekiti Constituency, Honourable Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel at the plenary today.

The House noted that Indiscriminate construction of bumps amount to a colossal waste of government scarce resources as some of them are constructed without approval and below standards and are sooner than later washed away thereby causing potholes and ditches that are dangerous to motorists.

In his submission during his lead of debates on the motion, Honourable Abolarin Ganiyu, lamented his worry at the indiscriminate manner in which many towns and villages erect bumps on major roads across Kwara State.

He stated that Illegal speed breakers constitute devastating damage to the roads, which in some cases leads to road accidents.

The lawmaker from Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State also emphasized that, indeed, indiscriminate erection of bumps contribute to many cases of fatal road accidents and aide quick damage of roads in the country.

Honourable Abolarin reiterated that "construction and rehabilitation of roads by the state government are capital intensive, hence, it would amount to economic sabotage for us to continued to allow roads built with tax payers’ money to be destroyed before their time through lawlessness by communities who have taken it upon themselves, to construct unapproved bumbs on newly constructed or rehabilitated roads."

"It must be made known to people that, It is illegal for people to take laws into their hands by mounting speed breakers indiscriminately on the highways without first taking permission from the Kwara State Ministry of Works and Transport," he said.

The Isapa-born lawmaker who doubled as the chairman, House Committee on Works and Transport, explained further; "If a particular community is having problem in controlling over speeding by reckless drivers, the best bet is to first come to the ministry office where quick intervention and necessary professional assistance will be offered.

”A situation where a single community will erect as many as 20 or 15 speed breakers in a distance of less than half a kilometre that passes through their town or village, all in the name of preventing accidents does not augur well for unsuspecting road users and it is also damaging to the roads in question," Honourable Abolarin said.

He therefore called on communities and groups involved in the erection of bumps to desist from erecting bumps without liaising with the State Ministry of Works and Transport, for professional advice and approval.

"As a concerned lawmaker, I will add, that henceforth, any installation of road bumps or speed breakers must be done with the approval of all relevant authorities failure of which such bumps or speed breakers must be removed and the violating communities sanctioned. He concluded.

Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu called on the Kwara State Government to ensure state and local government's roads are not tampered with without due approval and to enlighten the public on dangers inherent in the Indiscriminate erection of bumps.

In another development, the Nigerian Envoy to France, Ambassador Kayode Laro has commended the Kwara State House of Assembly for what he described as excellent legislative activities.

Ambassador who gave the commendation today when he visited the House to watch the proceeding of plenary expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the House.

The Nigerian Ambassador to France also praised the leadership qualities of the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the principal officers as well as other members of the House.

Responding, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu assured the envoy of the Ninth Assembly's commitment to making laws that will protect and enhance the lives of the people of Kwara.

Sheu Abdulkadir Yusuf,

Chief Press Secretary to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, KWHA

28.04.2021