Opinion..
By Nenfort Clifford Gonchen
Maraban Jema’a, located at the bustling gateway into Jos, has increasingly turned into a chaotic transport hub. Once known for its strategic link between Plateau State and other parts of Northern Nigeria, the area is now synonymous with traffic congestion and disorderly parking, especially by heavy-duty trucks. What used to be a smooth corridor for trade and travel has become a nightmare for motorists and residents alike.
The indiscriminate parking of these trucks has disrupted the free flow of traffic, endangered lives, and weakened the very structure of the road meant to serve everyone.
Every day, truck drivers park carelessly along the shoulders of the highway and sometimes right on the carriageway itself, turning what should be a free-flowing road into a frustrating bottleneck.
This reckless behavior is often driven by a combination of factors,lack of designated parking bays, long waiting times to offload goods, weak enforcement of traffic regulations, and a general culture of indiscipline among road users.
At peak hours or late at night, the situation worsens, with trucks parked in double or even triple rows. The result is chaos, delay, and danger.
The safety implications of this situation are enormous. Parked trucks block visibility, forcing smaller vehicles to take risky swerves or drive against traffic, leading to frequent accidents,many of them fatal.
At night, the danger intensifies as poor lighting combines with obstruction to create deadly traps. Pedestrians have it no better; with the shoulders taken over by parked vehicles, they are forced to walk dangerously close to moving traffic.
In emergencies, ambulances and security vehicles find themselves trapped in gridlocks, delaying critical responses that could save lives.
Beyond safety concerns, the structural durability of the road is also at stake. These highways were never designed to bear the static weight of loaded trucks for long hours or days. Continuous parking of heavy-duty vehicles exerts excessive pressure on the road surface, causing cracks, rutting, and the gradual breakdown of the asphalt.
Over time, potholes emerge, drainage systems get blocked, and erosion sets in, turning what was once a solid infrastructure into a deteriorating death trap. It’s a slow destruction driven not by nature, but by negligence.
The socio-economic consequences are equally damaging. The endless traffic jams translate to wasted fuel, lost man-hours, and damaged vehicles.
Traders suffer from delays, transporters lose revenue, and commuters are constantly frustrated. For those living around Maraban Jema’a, life has become a daily battle against noise, fumes, and the ever-present risk of accidents.
Beyond the inconvenience, the chaos also discourages investors and tarnishes the image of Jos as a peaceful and organized city.
At the heart of this menace lie several root causes, chief among them the absence of designated truck terminals around Jos metropolis. Truck drivers are left with no choice but to park wherever they can find space.
Add to this the weak enforcement of traffic regulations, lack of urban transport planning, and poor coordination among transport unions, truck owners, and local authorities, and the result is the disorganized system we see today.
The solution, however, is not out of reach. Government must urgently establish a modern truck terminal near Maraban Jema’a equipped with basic facilities such as restrooms, fueling stations, and security posts to serve as a holding area for drivers awaiting loading or offloading.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other agencies should intensify enforcement efforts and impose strict penalties on violators. Public-private partnerships can also be explored to develop and manage parking facilities under proper regulation.
At the same time, truck drivers and unions need to be sensitized on the dangers their actions pose to everyone. Strengthening road shoulders and drainage systems can also help minimize damage where heavy-duty traffic is unavoidable.
The menace of indiscriminate truck parking at Maraban Jema’a is more than a traffic issue, it’s a public safety crisis and an infrastructural time bomb. It calls for urgent, coordinated action from all stakeholders.
With firm policies, responsible enforcement, and the right infrastructure, this corridor can once again reflect the beauty, order, and progress that Plateau State deserves.
Contact:
Nenfort Clifford Gonchen
📧 ngonchen@gmail.com
📞 08069788193
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