Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are apprehensive about the obscure state of street lights in the city centers, as they have demanded for answers, as to what the Government of the day is doing to address the challenges.
For many who live in Abuja, you will agree that the city has lost its glorious days. The once very safe and beautiful city, with functional streets lights (obviously the envy of other big cities in the country), is now a hub of darkness, motor accidents, thievery and other social vices.
It is disappointing to see that almost 90 percent of the street lights in the city are not functioning optimally, and the situation is beginning to brew unusual security concerns, among dwellers.
A drive around Abuja at night, makes one feel no different from being in a rural area, owing to the vast darkness and the number of wheel-less vehicles left abandoned at the mercy of criminals.
Post-Nigeria, spoke to some residents and road users, who decried the poor state of the city street lights, stating that it has not only increased the number of motor accidents at night, but has also given criminals, freewill to cause mayhem in the city.
“I was robbed of my Toyota Venza in Gwarimpa at gun point last month, while returning from work around 8:00pm. A car hit me from behind around First Bank. I got out of my car to confront the driver, only for two guys to enter my car with a gun, and asked me to cooperate with them or I will be killed. My life was taken away that night, because I had very important documents in there,” Victoria, an entrepreneur said.
Another road user particularly complained about Lifecamp – Gwarinpa express way, which has been a shadow of its self for a long time.
Mr. Bode, a taxi driver who left Lagos to pitch his tent in Abuja, lamented that the three lane road around Life camp – Gwarinpa express way, has no single street light, thus, have been causing fatal accidents in the area at night.
The taxi driver added, “that some parts of Jabi, Garki and Wuse 2 are only navigable, if your vehicle’s head lamps are super radiant, because the street lights are dead”.
Mr. Yemi Fajiola, who lives on Mike Akhigbe Street, Jabi, said that, “in recent times, there has been an endless re-occurrence of vehicle head on collisions every now and then, because of broken street lights.”
“As a result of the obscurity of the nights, crime rates have been on the increase. Your vehicle dare not breakdown around the dark corners in Jabi. You will come back in the morning to meet your car stereo, battery and other valuables gone. Most disturbing and nerve wrecking, is the sight of your vehicle completely vandalized, with your wheels calmly sitting on four gigantic stones”, Yemi added.
He also suspects that the police must be involved, hence they are supposed to keep vigilance throughout the night.
“If not, why are these criminals never caught. Police have some explaining to do, because they always seem to be patrolling the area”, he reiterated.
On Lagos street, area 11 Garki, Abubakar Abubakar, swore that there were streets around the city centers that he have never seen street lights come on.
“Even when the lights finally come on, you will find that out of 20 street lights, only 5 or 6 are functional. I wonder why the poles are still standing, when they have no use”. Abubakar added.
In the central district close to the Central Mosque, Silverbird Galleria and its environ, the story is not any different, people have fallen victims of car snatchers and petty thieves, making away with peoples valuables, as the area is always pitch black.
Lucky Ogbude, a resident of Gwarimpa, also recounted his ordeal around Gwarimpa exit to Kado, where he almost lost his life, as he blamed the authorities for the neglect on safety of lives and properties on the roads at night.
“I almost damaged my car a few months ago on my way out of Gwarimpa to wuse 2, because the highway was very dark, even with my bright head lamps, I could not see that I had trailed off the main road, so I ramped into a culvert by the road side. If only the authorities had put the lights in order. I would not have spent close to N100, 000 fixing my car”, Lucky cried out.
Ademola Adetokunbo and Aminu Kano crescents, Wuse 2, are one the most popular streets in Abuja, because of the number of night clubs and social activities that go on at night. As a result, motor accidents occur almost every night, especially during the weekend, when the already high city night-lovers, driving under the influence, cannot see anything, but mere darkness.
You do not need rocket science to understand that a city without functional street lights would create more room for misdemeanor, but the question is what are the Minister of FCT, Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, and the security agencies doing to domesticate this menace?
Only time will tell.
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