By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
HAZARDOUS SPEED bumps causing accidents and prolonging travel time across Nigeria’s highways are set to be dismantled, following an order by the Minister of Works.
He said the directive seeks to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance road safety nationwide.
At a two-day retreat for highway engineers and managerial staff in Abuja, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, emphasised the dangers posed by poorly constructed speed bumps.
“A journey that should take one hour now lasts three hours because of bumps every 20 metres,” he noted.
While speed bumps are essential in some areas, Umahi highlighted that many were poorly designed, resulting in accidents and vehicle damage.
The retreat, themed “Ensuring Delivery of Mr President’s Agenda on Road Infrastructural Development,” was organised to align with President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure goals.
The Minister announced stricter guidelines for new speed bumps, requiring approvals that meet technical standards, including proper distance and warning signs for motorists.
Umahi explained that many existing speed bumps were haphazardly constructed, causing avoidable fatalities.
He cited instances where vehicles’ undercarriages were damaged by excessively high bumps, defeating their purpose of traffic control. Moving forward, applications for speed bumps must be approved by the ministry after passing stringent technical checks.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, praised Tinubu’s infrastructure agenda for fostering economic growth and improving citizens’ lives.
He urged engineers to adopt modern technology and innovative solutions to transform Nigeria’s road network.
Olufunso Adebiyi, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, referenced Federal Road Safety Corps statistics, showing that reckless driving and other human errors caused most accidents, with poor roads accounting for less than 10 per cent.
He criticised inefficiencies in road engineering and supervision, urging ministry staff to address these lapses.
The retreat aims to prepare ministry personnel to implement Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, particularly in road infrastructure development. Participants were encouraged to take responsibility for ensuring high-quality roadworks to prevent irregularities that compromise safety.
This initiative underscores a commitment to safer roads and smoother travel for Nigerians, with the removal of defective speed bumps being a significant first step.
