Potholes on Abuja Airport expressway. Photo: Femi Ipaye

Residents and motorists in the FCT on Wednesday expressed concern over the deterioration of infrastructure in the territory.

The respondents expressed their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

They, therefore, urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to take the necessary steps to immediately effect repairs on some portions of roads in Abuja, the capital city and its environs.

They particularly described the condition of the roads in the six area councils as “embarrassing’’, as they do not befit a territory created to be a model for the states.

NAN reports that many roads within and outside the metropolis, have become impassable with some portions washed away by erosion or have become damaged.

Some of the roads affected include Alex Ekwueme Way, particularly at the traffic light at the Jabi Motor Park Junction, Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way at the NEPA Junction (Asokoro), towards the SSS Quarters.

Also, Nnamdi Azikiwe link to Umar Musa Yar’Adua Express Way by the Velodrome of the National Stadium.

In an interview with NAN, Dahiru Ibrahim, a commercial driver who plies Kaduna-Abuja Road daily, told NAN that his major headache every morning was the Jabi Park junction.

“My car was bashed three times there as drivers move to meet up with the traffic light when it flashes green.

“Nobody wants to be detained at a place unnecessarily; the authorities concerned should do something fast.

“Jabi Park is one of the major sources of revenue generation centre for both the FCT and AMAC. Then why will FCTA not do their jobs as we have paid our bills?’’ Ibrahim asked.

Caleb Dogara, a city taxi driver, noted that motorists coming from the Karu axis to the city centre had a hectic time at two junctions.

“Most of us spend hours from the Asokoro Bridge to the NEPA junction because of the bad portions. Some prefer to go through Aso Drive to burst out through Federal Secretariat which is faster if you are going that way. We are calling on the FCTA and AMAC to live up to their responsibilities. People are paying their dues why then will the government not do its own part?,’’ he asked.

Other respondents who spoke on condition of anonimity observed that the indiscriminate disposal of waste, especially across the six area councils, posed a health risk.

“If you go from AMAC to Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abaji, the story is same; waste disposal is a very big problem. The council chairmen have failed to live up to their responsibility to the people. There are no access roads; refuse is disposed indiscriminately, the health centres and schools lack the necessary facilities,’’ they said.

They noted that pollution of the environment from waste, burst water pipes and sewage, was increasing daily with slums expanding rapidly in the FCT.

They, therefore, urged the incoming FCT minister to brace up and ensure that the myriad of challenges in the territory were addressed speedily.

“The new FCT minister has to move very quickly as soon as he assumes office to begin to address the problem of deteriorating infrastructure in the FCT. What is happening in the FCT today negates the original idea that FCT will serve as a model for the development of other states in the country.

“The new minister has a duty to sanitise the environment and very quickly too,’’ they said.

Meanwhile, FCTA, AMAC and council officials contacted by NAN on the situation, blamed it on insufficient funds to carry out maintenance works.