Better Nigeria: ABUJA TRAFFIC

BY ELLA

No one needs a soothsayer to tell him or her that Abuja is indeed one of the fastest growing cities in Africa (if not in the world by now) both in living cost  and people (yea,yea, landlords are frying people's asses in the name of rent)

The steady influx of people into this city amazes me. If u have noticed, 70% of graduates want to serve in abuja during the one year compulsory NYSC programme. "What for?" I keep asking. I guess they think this is the land of "opportunities" (a big lie we have told ourselves) .Anyway, that is a topic for another day. My worry today is the MAD traffic in Abuja currently on the rise. 

I remember us moving to abuja in 1991. Yes! I have been here that long! *grins* 
Then, the city was very different from what u have now. There was no berger round about for instance. No flyovers. Wuse market as it is today was non-existent .Few cars, few people. We lived a very quiet life and there was literally no night life then. One had to walk some distance to get transportation . As a growing child ,I walked to nearly everywhere: market, school ,errands etc.

Now in present day 2013, the story is different! Driving out of my area-zone 6- is almost an impossible task at anytime of the day. At hours between 4pm - 8pm zone 6  is a no-go-area. Normally from my house to berger junction should take an average of 3mins - 5mins but now it takes me an average of 15mins( on a good day) or 35mins ( on a horrid day). Now am beginning to have a taste of what its like to live in lagos. Deciding to go to wuse market or pass through that route is another ball game. You need a huge garment of patience  to help you contend with the crazy bus drivers and  an AC chilled car plus a cold drink to endure the torture when everything stands still. Those going to nyanya, mararaba  and  the likes must have a taste of traffic on lagos 3rd mainland bridge. (laughs).

Now to the issue of buses. Bus drivers in abuja are a set the most unruly and rude people behind the wheels u will ever meet. Gosh! A lot of people who drive private cars will understand this more. They act like they alone "own" the road  and treat other private road users like "who do u think you are with  your fancy car?" Lol.  But seriously, saying that these bus drivers have no road manners is a huge understatement . They park at any spot picking  and dropping passengers ,beat traffic sign,squeeze their buses into any available space not minding your car (well na ur fine car go scratch so which one concern them?) and most annoying of all, they hurl insults at you for daring to take offence at their attitude or challenge them. And because of this, whenever i have the opportunity i never let any bus get in front of me *wicked smile*.

When at the beginning of this year the FCT minister announced the ban of buses and taxis on certain routes (wuse market road inclusive) i was overjoyed! Bad belle ba? Hehhehee.  However, as usual, our government never plans a perfect execution of any project  απϑ  the ban was lifted.

Some people would want to call me selfish/wicked at this point because "u have a car  απϑ  do not have to use public transport". To the extent of having a car at my disposal, I agree but I will disagree with you if you call me selfish/ wicked. It is the government who have robbed us of our rights to a good life in broad day light that should be called selfish/wicked! 

I understand that everyone cannot own a car but there should be some form of sanity and decorum on the road among road users.

The major problem is see here is our government and their so-called town/urban planners. In modern big cities eg. London,Leeds,Paris etc, there are "bus routes" just like what Gov. Fashola is doing in Lagos with BRT . With these bus routes,buses,taxis and private cars won't compete for space on the road. This eases traffic and tension too!

When Abuja was being built initially there was so much noise about  "the Abuja master plan" and we all  thought there was a plan indeed. smh.  If u have been to other parts of the world where "things" work as they should, you will know that our transport system is laughable and no way near civilisation. Since our government and their advisers( honestly I don't know why we waste money paying those people) didn't or haven't had the initiative to copy well from these countries, we are stuck with this predicament because whether we like it or not, the traffic menace in Abuja will get worse in the coming years.

To ease the situation, the government owes the public the duty of maintaining our traffic lights, but no! Instead they prefer to designate a "yellow fever" or policeman at major junctions  απϑ  when they are tired they leave their duty posts especially at night when they do not feel obligated to work thereby causing jamming of the road with impatient road users.

I sincerely do not think banning the buses will work the magic here. Its far beyond that. I will suggest the following be done to help 

• Programmes can be organised between the government and the public transport operators to create a platform where these drivers can be educated on the ethics of road usage & attitude towards other road users before they are registered as licensed bus /taxi drivers; 

• Attach a strong penalty for those who will default in obeying the rules:

• Be firm about enforcing the penalties (not taking bribes and letting the defaulter go); 

• Create other means of transportation FAST!!!

Do not "YIMU" me oh! It is do-able! If only we (Nigerians as a whole) are willing to work.

Finally, I look forward to an Abuja with much improved transport system. Let's play our own part by being patient and obedient behind the wheels if u drive or learn to caution the bus or taxi driver when he is being unreasonable on the road,if u are a passenger in one. 

God bless Abuja!
God bless Nigeria!!

Emmanuella Nwabundo Enweonwu is a lawyer, a volunteer program officer with Society for Community development (SCD), free lance writer and a makeup artist. She is passionate about what she does and very enthusiastic about the quest for a Better Nigeria.