Access to the Federal Capital City from the region and the rest of the country is provided by three Federal Highways. This was the pedestal considered while making proposal for the transportation system of Abuja during the master planning.
The first, is Route A-2, a north-south federal highway. It provides access to the nearby towns; Sulejato the north, Koton Karfe and Lokoja to the south. With connections to other Cities and routes. The A-2 is also the primary means of access to some northern and coastal area cities, like Kaduna and Kano to the north and Port Harcourt and Calabar to the south.
The development of Abuja as the New Federal Capital as well as the establishment of the A-2 as a north-south federal trunk road were products of 4thNational Development Plan. Thus, at the time of the creation of the Abuja Masterplan, the A-2 was newly under construction.
The second is Route A-124 an east-west road. It crosses the north-west corner of the FCT. It provides access to towns immediately to the west of the FCT, such as Bida and Mokwa. In combination with other routes, particularly A-1, Route A-124 could also serve as the primary means of access between the FCT and Ibadan and Lagos.
The third is Route A-234, an east-west road. It begins at Route A-2 on the west and passes directly through the Federal Capital City. Thus, it serve as the connector between the A-2 and the City. Immediately beyond the FCT, Route A-234 provides access to towns to the east, such as Keffi and Akwanga. In combination with other routes, particularly A-3, Route A-234 provides access to the north-eastern cities, like Jos and Makurdi, subsequently to Enugu and other southern cities.
Heavy traffic congestion being experienced by commuters and other travelers coming to Abuja from the border town of Suleja and the North, ends as soon as they climb the Zuba interchange to the ONEX. So also the nightmares of travelers coming from Keffi, North-East and other Southern cities, ends as soon as they leave Mararraba and crossed to the FCT at Nyanya.
It was the provision of ONEX that took over the function of the A-234 within the FCT from ZubaThrough Kubwa to AYA, before it resumes at Mararraba as soon as travelers exit the FCT. In a similar vein the A-124 was terminated at Madalla at its meeting point with the A-2. The same circumstances that made the A-234 to be realigned and upgraded with the provision of 10-lane Expressway in the ONEX,also affects the over congested border town of Sulejawhere the A-124 traverse, being the consequences of the Abuja development. Unfortunately the privilege received by the A-234 is yet to be extended to the A-124.
The fallout now is the diversion through the Maje-Diko road which serve as the link to the A-2 in order for travelers to escape the over crowdedness through Suleja to the FCT and other parts of the Northern cities. The smaller vehicles can be managed but the trailers and oil tankers going through a congested urban area as Suleja with the antecedents of horrific fire incidents in the event of any slight mishap will be tantamount to being suicidal for the community, the Local and State Governments to allow.
On the other hand, there is a total neglect by the Federal Government on the Maje-Diko link route, which always witnesses deadly and horrendous accidents, with horrifying conflagrations most especially in the event of oil tankers accidents. The consequential mayhem is tantamount to sacrificing the community. Presently motorist especially the heavy trucks and tankers spend up to two days to cross the eight-kilometers road from Maje to Diko. While traffic gridlock at times extend the long stretch up to 30 kilometers as far as Lambata and beyond.
The most critical point now is only the eight-kilometer length from Maje to Diko. But even if it is extended to cover the remaining length of the A-124 to Mokwa through Lambata and Bida, the cost is only avery small fraction compared to the huge 15 Trillion Naira contract of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The A-2 reconstruction and expansion from Abuja to Kano as commenced by the previous and continued by the present Government is highly commendable. The contract is now handled by Infouest after being taken away from Julius Berger. Unfortunately, sections of the road that would have been completed are always being closed for repairs. The road is passing through a congested urban center along Suleja. Many important and long established U-turns, which ought to be maintained are now being eliminated by the contractor. Motorist are now driving against the traffic, creating unnecessary confusions that are prone to fatal highway accidents.
The FCDA has been attending to its responsibilities as it concern its mandate within the FCT. The overall consequences now is access to the Northern parts of the country that is now being blocked. It is centering on the Abuja region and very sensitive. The Federal Ministry of Works must take note and address this monumental challenge before it further escalate to something else.
