OUR STAND!!!
It is essentially important that we make the public calls for relocation of Lalan mini market to allow for befitting urban renewal of Gusau the capital city of Zamfara.
This call became imperative considering how good the ongoing road expansion and reconstruction by both the state and federal governments are to the urban upgrading of Gusau town.
Earlier than now, this medium particularly has been making passionate appeals for the state government to take decisive measures on sanitizing that significant portion of the Nigerian highway so that free vehicular movement can be enhanced.
Our concern even before now, is the manner at which heavy truck drivers causes intentional traffic gridlock in the name of securing space to pack their heavy but dangerous trucks.
Innocent motorists and commuters suffer for no cause simply because the truck drivers make it a habit to always have a stop-over at Lalan for whatever reason.
We have also highlighted severally that allowing petrol tankers carrying inflammable substances such as petroleum and LNG products to park their trucks in the area is such a dangerous decision that may have a consequential effect on the lives of the people.
More worrisome also is the manner at which wool barrow pushers, traditional medicine sellers, women prying locally made cakes, people selling suya meat among others dominate a substantial part of the road and makes movement for the commuters mostly difficult.
Recently, we have seen how accidents by these petrol tankers had caused serious casualties in both Niger and Kogi states.
Even for the purpose of urban renewal, Lalan used to be part of the outer face of Gusau city and there is no way one will be happy to see the entry part of a city like Gusau looking in its present shape.
We are of the view that a befitting location in between Kwatarkwashi and Damba be allocated for relocation of Lalan on temporary arrangement while the government works toward providing a new model truck parking space like its is done in Kaduna.
The Federal Road Safety Corp in collaboration with the state road traffic agency (ZAROTA) should work out ways to ensure that parking of heavy trucks has been prohibited entirely along Lalan area.
We advise that, Governor Dauda Lawal should heed to this clarion call by relocating Lalan and securing its befitting features.
