The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to prioritise ongoing construction work on the alternative road linking the FCT from Keffi-Karu axis of Nasarawa State.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji (Kaduna, APC) who expressed concern over lack of alternative access road from the axis to the city centre, a situation that often leads to persistent traffic gridlock along the Karu/Nyanya stretch of the Abuja-Keffi highway.
In his motion, Magaji noted that the principal gateway into the FCT from the North-East and parts of the NorthCentral geopolitical zones, including Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi States and northern Cross River State, is through the Keffi-Karu corridor.
He further said that unlike other major entry points into the FCT, which have alternative access routes capable of providing relief during emergencies, traffic disruptions, security breaches, or infrastructure failures, the Keffi-Karu corridor depends on a single access route into FCT.
The lawmaker observed that disruptions from accidents, natural disasters, infrastructure collapse, security threats, or maintenance can significantly hinder the movement of people, goods, security personnel, and emergency services into the Federal Capital Territory due to lack of alternative access road.
He said the absence of an alternative route poses major strategic and security vulnerabilities, considering the critical national institutions located within the FCT and the need for uninterrupted access during emergencies.
He expressed concerns that the increasing volume of traffic along the Keffi-Karu route has outpaced the available infrastructure, resulting in recurring congestion and avoidable hardships for commuters and businesses, hence, the need for an alternative route.
The House mandated the committees on Federal Capital Territory and Works to engage relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Capital Territory (FCTA), Office of the National Security Adviser, Federal Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Army, to assess the strategic, security and economic implications of the current access limitation and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
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