THE PAINS AND CHAOS AT ZUBA JUNCTION
Umar Shuaibu
The Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) and Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) are two major roads that According to the structural plan of Abuja, the two major Expressways that serve as the outermost limits of the City were the ONEX and OSEX. The two roads radiate from same starting point at the vicinity of the Aso Rock base. They all terminate at the Trunk A-2 Kaduna – Lokoja Federal Highway. The ONEX at Zuba, while the OSEX at Gwagwalada.
Originally, prior to the creation of the Abuja Master Plan, it was the Trunk A-234 that connects the former Abuja, now Suleja, through Gwagwa, Karmo Wuse Nyanya to Keffi. Which eventually links to the A-3 at Akwanga. But the Abuja Master plan affected the existing Federal Road corridors passing through the City, hence the realignment of the A-234 from Zuba through Kubwa to AYA, which constitute the (ONEX). The FCDA thus took over its responsibility of construction and maintenance within that extent.
The Federal Ministry of Works continue its responsibility through the A-2 and remaining portion of the A-234. However, in comparison with the quality and standard of the works executed on the ONEX by the FCDA, that of the Federal Ministry of Works on the A-2 leaves much to be desired.
The realization of the necessity for the improvement of the road standard on the A-2 from Kano through Kaduna and Abuja to Lokoja, as initiated by the previous Buhari and continued by the Tinubu administration is highly commendable. More so due to the quantity and weight of the traffic ranging from cars to heavy trailers plying the road.
Abuja City has three major entry routes. They generate very heavy traffic during the peak hours. They are; the ONEX, Airport Expressway and the Nyanya – Keffi Expressway.
Unarguably, the most chaotic traffic junction in Abuja is the ONEX/A-2 junction at Zuba. This is because the A-2 conveys the heavy road traffic to and from the biggest and most industrial Cities of the Northern Zone of Nigeria, which are Kano and Kaduna, to Abuja, the Federal Capital in the Central Zone. It continues to Lagos and other Southern zones of the country. On the other hand, the bulk of traffic leaving and entering the Federal Capital City to Kaduna and Kano are conveyed through the ONEX to meet the A-2 at Zuba Junction. These are in addition to the daily traffic of commuters that live in Abuja’s neighbouring town of Suleja.
As always, anytime a road is bad and full of potholes there is traffic congestion before crossing the bad spot. At the Zuba Junction the situation is further aggravated with the existence of an informal motor park within the cloverleaf circles which should be appropriately used for greening, and the inappropriate use of the shoulders by commercial motorist, while sourcing and dropping passengers at all the turning points of the interchange.
Anytime any vehicle breaks down along any side of the road close to the junction, which always occur on daily basis, trying moments are assured. Especially during peak hours of the day. Incidences of heavy trailers and full loaded petrol tankers breaking down on these spots are also daily occurrences.
Another factor is the Madallah Market which is at a close proximity with the Zuba Junction. The market attracts patronage from the entire sub region. Unless it is the destination, otherwise, the wisest decision for motorists traversing through Madalla on Thursdays is to avoid it, due to the heavy traffic congestion it generates. A distance of approximately 500m along the road, which can be covered within 1 minute could last many hours on some of the worst moments, when major unwanted incidents occur.
Traffic gridlock could be impounded as far as many kilometers before the market, reaching up to the base of Zuma Rock and beyond, most especially if there are accidences of broken down vehicles or accidents on the critical spot, which are usually frequent. For daily commuters to the City for work along the axis, Thursdays are dreadful days. Many workers skip going to work thereby risking sacking due to the chaotic traffic challenges being encountered on Thursdays. The combination of gridlock at the Madallah Market and the congestion at the Zuba Junction always overwhelm security agencies and traffic control officers every day of the week.
The construction and expansion of the A-2 Expressway has been ongoing for long, and has reached the critical point of the ONEX/A-2 Junction at Zuba, 4 months ago. It is evident that the Federal Ministry of Works has improved on the quality and standard of the road with concrete reinforcements. However the work proceeds at a very slow rate. In addition to the prevailing traffic situation at the Zuba Junction as highlighted, the construction activities is further compounding the already existing chaos and pandemonium.
What is expected from the Federal Ministry of Works is to consider the dare situation at the Zuba Junction and fast tract its completion in order to ease sufferings and agonies to the citizen using the road.
Cover Photo Caption: Traffic jam caused by a broken down lorry on Abuja- Kaduna highway.
Credit: The Nation Online Newspaper
