Concerns Over Road Damage by Heavy Trucks in Abuja
It is deeply troubling to witness the rapid and deliberate destruction of Abuja’s roads by tipper truck drivers transporting sand, gravel, and concrete to construction sites across the city.
Initially, it was a sporadic occurrence—drivers recklessly spilling portions of their cargo onto the roads. However, this has now escalated into a widespread issue, with entire stretches of roads littered with gravel, sand, and concrete. Worse still, the concrete solidifies into hardened masses, creating hazardous bumps that deface the roads and compromise safety.
This alarming trend raises pressing questions: Is this sheer negligence, or could it be a calculated effort to undermine the commendable work being done by the Honourable FCT Minister? Do these truck drivers, along with the companies they work for, realize the immense damage they are inflicting on our roads—damage that will eventually cost the government hundreds of billions of naira to repair? It is even more disheartening to see that some of these affected roads were only recently constructed or rehabilitated.
A few days ago, while driving through the city, I was shocked by the extent of the damage. Nearly every road I passed had been defaced by these reckless truck operations. Unable to ignore the devastation, I stopped by a stationary Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) patrol vehicle to draw their attention to the issue. The officers shared my concerns and were visibly frustrated by the situation. However, their helpless expressions suggested that enforcement measures alone might not be sufficient to address the problem. This realization prompted me to write this open letter to the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, urging immediate intervention before the roads he is working so hard to build are completely ruined. If left unchecked, this problem could extend beyond Abuja, with federal and state roads across the country suffering the same fate. I also hope the Minister of Works and state governments take decisive action.
There is an urgent need for regulatory policies and strict laws to curb this menace. The use of inadequate trucks for hauling construction materials through the city must be prohibited, and punitive measures must be enforced. Offending trucks should not only be impounded but also permanently removed from operation. Additionally, both the drivers and truck owners should face heavy fines to deter future violations. Such stringent measures may be the only way to prevent the reckless destruction of our roads.
It would be redundant to list specific streets and highways affected by this problem, as doing so would only highlight a fraction of the damage. Instead, I urge the Honourable Minister to personally drive through the city—his city, our city—the one he is tirelessly working to develop, and witness the extent of the destruction firsthand. He should then consider the financial burden of repeatedly rebuilding these roads, knowing that without immediate intervention, they will continue to be damaged in an endless cycle.
Honourable Minister, I commend your dedication to transforming the FCT, but this is a critical call to action. Your hard work is being undone before your eyes, leaving an ugly trail behind every step of progress. The time to act is now.
