Habitual traffic snarl occasioned by downpour at the Camp junction
The authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), arose from an emergency Management meeting, with a decision to open-up feeder roads that could serve as alternative routes to the badly damaged Asero-Camp portion of the Abeokuta-Ibadan Highways.
Consequently, the University would commence an immediate grading of the Iberekodo-Mawuko Road, starting from the General Hospital, along the road, up to the University’s Institute for Human Resources (INHURD) end.
The meeting also unanimously agreed to effect necessary repairs on the road leading to INHURD from the University’s Permanent Site at Alabata Road, while two other identified earth roads along Camp-Eleweran Road would be considered.
The palliative decision was reached at an emergency Management meeting attended by members of Management, Deans and Directors, Unit heads and representatives of Staff and Student Unions, last Thursday.
The Management’s decision came on the heel of catalogue of harrowing experiences that members of the University Community were in recent times, subjected to, while plying the road to and from the University.
It will be recalled that the suffering reached a climax last Monday when commuters, including staff and students were caught in a traffic gridlock for upward of about eight hours, resultant of the bad portion of the road opposite the Vehicle Inspection’s Office (VIO), Camp.
Not few students and members of the University staff abandoned their vehicles and trekked several kilometres away from the spot, before they could find alternative means of getting home late evening.
Some according to reports managed to get home around 11.00pm, while many others that could not continue with the journey, particularly for security reasons, had to seek accommodation in nearby hotels or with friends, till the second day.
Reacting to the hardship daily encountered by members of the community on the road, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, said the development “has an implication of affecting productivity, learning, morale and emotions.
“I can only commend all the staff and students for the level-headedness they have demonstrated, even in the face of the burden of the hardship and the accompanying stress. We need to think beyond today and come up with measures that will significantly address our collective challenge on the road”, the Vice-chancellor added.
Realising that the issue required a proactive intervention of the University Management, Professor Balogun, has therefore directed both the Physical Planning Unit and the Works and Services Department of the University to urgently draw-up the required technical details and quotations, for considerations, towards the grading and fixing of the identified alternative routes.
Addressing the headship of the two departments, the Vice-Chancellor said, “There is no weekend breaks for any staff of the two Directorates, till I have the required technical papers and bills to effect the repairs. This is an emergency situation and you will appreciate the fact that our people (staff and students) have suffered enough”.