The blight on Zuba interchange

There is a growing concern on the appearance of an informal market, trading in all kinds of fruits, specifically plantain, atop the Zuba interchange on the way to the Federal Capital City. This is an infringement that is generating unnecessary congestion, traffic and dirt, with susceptibility for accidents. These could include small cars to trailers and petrol tankers.

Zuba is a settlement strategically located on the FCT border with Niger State. At the same time being a meeting point of one of the busiest expressways conveying traffic to the Federal Capital City and one of the major Federal Expressways known as the A-2. There is a substantial Federal Capital City working population in the Suleja urban area.

By virtue of its location Zuba has one of the busiest inter-state motor parks in Abuja, one of the biggest motor spare parts and busiest and biggest fruits market in the FCT. The catchment area of all these activities extends beyond the FCT and its neighbouring states.

It would be recalled that not long ago we made a feature highlighting the dangers of delay in the completion of the ongoing road construction work along the A-2 Expressway at the Zuba junction. The intercity motor park transport workers abandoned the park for on street sourcing of passengers travelling to the other parts of the country, right on the Zuba road junction.

This coupled with the activities of the on-street hawkers creates pandemonium during the evening rush hours. It also triggered the traders in fruits specifically plantain which are perishable to establish a sort of deport on the interchange to fast-tract the time of transporting the items to their various destinations within the Federal Capital City and beyond.

It must be understood that to allow unauthorised activities at this strategic location has the tendency of portraying the Nigeria’s  federal capital in a very bad light. What must be avoided is emergence or display of blight, debris or slum, capable of giving the city a negative image. Unfortunately, that is what the Zuba interchange now is tending to.

The Abuja City Gate is located at the Kukwaba District of the Phase II of the city development. That is how it was originally planned. It was actually a symbolic point of entry to the First Phase of the city development, as one departs Phase II. In reality it was not because the city starts from there.

A city entry point, or city gate, is a crucial, often symbolic, access point on major roads that shapes travellers’ first impressions and regulates traffic flow into urban areas. Modern entry points combine functional infrastructure like, flyovers, roundabouts, and interchanges with aesthetic elements such as monuments, signage, or unique architecture to reflect a city’s identity.

Abuja City has at least three major entry points. As the city continues to develop and expand, proposals could be made as to where other gates could be established as travellers approach the capital city. According to the prevailing situation, three places would emerge, due to their strategic locations.

The first is at Zuba at the beginning of the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX), as soon as the traveller leaves the Zuba interchange and commences driving to the city. The second would be at Gwagwalada at the beginning of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX), though not yet constructed to that point and the third at the beginning of entry to the FCT from Nasarawa State. Actually there is a gate presently at that location.

All these three places are supposed to portray neat and beautiful images to give the Abuja city the brand it deserves as the Capital City of Nigeria. Efficient traffic management is required to limit the number of highway connections at the entrance and to separate industrial traffic from general traffic. Clear, signages, and, good layouts, help visitors to navigate while secure and well-lit, areas enhance safety.

It is worthy to note that the expressways bound the entire development corridors of the city and define their outer limits; they link to the trunk routes of the capital territory for access to other parts of the country. One of the two major expressways commences in between the foot of the Aso Rock and the three arms zone, and connects the central area via arterial roads leading to the three arms zone is the ONEX, that terminates at the Zuba road junction as a trunk route.

The other one is the OSEX, also expected to terminate farther down the A-2 after Gwagwalada as a trunk route. They have a design speed of 100kph. They allow unobstructed traffic from the outskirts to the city centre for those who arrive Abuja from any part of the country to freely carry-out their transactions and to possibly return to their destinations within the same day.

Managing a city like Abuja is a serious business which requires continuous enforcement exercise in order to maintain sanity. There is an urgent need to enforce the return of these fruits traders back to their fruits market and the road transport workers back to the motor park in order to arrest the activities now taking place along the road, otherwise it shall be tantamount to creation of a cul-de-sac at that important point. The relevant agencies are urged to take note and act swiftly.

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.