Jubilation in Abuja as Army dismantle Nyanya – Aya checkpoint
There is massive jubilation and sighs of relief in Abuja this Friday morning as
commuters who ply the Nyanya-AYA road found out this rainy morning that
the Military checkpoint at Kugbo has been dismantled over the night.
The Military checkpoint was erected at Kugbo about six years ago following
several bombings of strategic places within the Abuja by Boko Haram, a
terrorist organisation that has been fighting the Nigerian government since
2009. Among places that were bombed are United Nations Building, Thisday
Newspaper headquarters, Banex plaza in Wuse 2and Nyanya motor park
among others.
The Military had explained then that the checkpoint was erected in order to
monitor and control movement of persons entering the city centre from axis
linking other states.
But the checkpoint has over the years turned the life of people plying the road
into Abuja to a nightmare. On a very bad day, you may spend three hours on a
distance that ordinarily takes about 15 minutes. The frustrations you face on
such stand-still traffic include overheating of cars, sweating, burning of scare
petrol and lateness to work and business places.
But for the dismantling of the checkpoint last night, going into the city centre
would have been hell this particular Friday morning because of the heavy rain
that started as early as 6.AM. It was therefore a pleasant surprise as the road
was free from the nearly three kilometres where the jam usually begins to the
Kugbo where the check point was located, even as a few soldiers stood around
their tent and armoured personnel carrier (APC) observing the free flow of
traffic.
Speaking about the development, Daniel Okpanachi who works with the
Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing said he could not believe his
eyes when he drove pass the place with unusual ease.
“I left my house by 6.30.AM believing that at least I should get to my office by
9.30.AM as usual. But right from Mopol junction in Mararaba, I noticed that
the traffic was moving without hindrance. My first thought was that maybe the
soldiers have left the checkpoint ahead because of the heavy rain. But I quickly
said no, because the soldiers usually stand and perform their duty under the
sun or rain. So when I got to Kugbo and saw that the barriers have been
dismantled, I almost came down from my car to kneel down and praise God.
“We have suffered so much loses on this road including loss of man hour as
people get to work very late after leaving their houses early morning. We
thank God for this development,” he said.
Also speaking Mrs Theresa Ibekwe said she was overwhelmed with joy to see
that the unnecessary waste of times occasioned by the Military checkpoint was
over.
“I hope this is real because the inconveniences have been too much. You know
how things are run here. Tomorrow you may hear that they are back but may
God forbid that,” she prayed.
