The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department has reopened the barricaded slip road connecting the Goodluck Jonathan Expressway with Ring Road II at the Galadimawa Interchange.
The acting Director-General of the department, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, explained on Saturday that the road was barricaded on 25 June to mitigate flooding during the rainy season.
Mohammed stated that the road was reopened to ease traffic flow now that the rainy season has ended.
“The onset of the rainy season in Abuja is usually in May, and the slip road is typically flooded every year, necessitating its closure.
“To the glory of God, no lives were lost in this area since 2020 because we made it a tradition to block the road during the rainy season,” he said.
He commended residents and stakeholders for their understanding and support throughout the rainy season.
The acting Director-General also announced the commencement of the 2024 dry season sensitisation campaign to combat frequent fire outbreaks in the Federal Capital Territory.
Mohammed advised residents to exercise caution when handling cooking gas, petroleum products, electrical appliances, and other inflammable items or chemicals.
He urged residents to keep cooking gas outside their kitchens and to avoid storing petrol or inflammable chemicals in cars or homes.
He also recommended having fire extinguishers in cars, homes, and offices to control potential fire outbreaks.
Additionally, Mohammed cautioned residents to exercise care when burning bushes. He advised anyone undertaking such activity to monitor the fire closely to prevent it from spreading to unintended areas.
The Director of Engineering Services, Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr Richard Dauda, noted that the slip road was part of old infrastructure in the area.
Dauda explained that the road would be reconstructed and elevated to provide a permanent solution to the flooding problem.
He added that upon completing the ongoing construction of the Galadimawa Interchange, a bridge would replace the temporary culvert currently contributing to the road’s flooding.
