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Comrade Umar Sa’idu, NUJ Chairman, Bauchi State Council
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The ever busy Bauchi-Gombe federal highway has been described as death trap considering the number of fatal crashes that have led to deaths and life changing injuries.
The assertion was made by the Chairman of Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Umar Sa’idu during the 2022 World Bicycle Day held at the NUJ Press Center, Bauchi on Friday.
He lamented that the 150 kilometers stretched road has completely become deplorable to the extent that motorists and other road users are passing through difficulties while plying the road.
The NUJ Chairman further lamented that innocent lives are lost on a daily basis on the road because every portion of the road has failed forcing drivers to always meander in oder to avoid potholes and in the process either swerve off the road or have head on collision.
He further said that commercial vehicles plying the road are the worst affected as they have to change tyres and other spare parts regularly therefore forcing them to increase the transport fare from Bauchi to Gombe at intervals coupled with the scarcity of petrol.
While calling on the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to immediately intervene in fixing the road, he advice the road users to take precaution while plying the road.
He then declared that very soon, members of the NUJ in Bauchi state will embark on a peaceful protest to draw the attention of federal government to the deplorable condition of the road by riding bicycles from Bauchi to Gombe and back in order to take note of the portions on the road that need immediate fixing.
On the World Bicycle Day, Umar Sa’idu said that its importance cannot be overemphasized considering that it is the cheapest means of transportation anywhere in the world.
He said that about from its economic value, riding of bicycle improves health conditions of the riders particularly in the ares of effective nervous system, breathing increase, digestion and blood pressure control.
Umar Sa’idu enjoined Journalists in the state to ensure that they got their personal bicycles in order to join the league of riders assuring that a club will be floated by the NUJ.
The NUJ Chairman also said that the NUJ will partner the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies in promoting safety on the roads.
