Koka Flyover: Heavy traffic overhead, rising nuisance, security concerns underneath

The underside of Asaba's Koka Flyover, intended to ease traffic and beautify the gateway to Delta State's capital, has become a makeshift dormitory for dozens of men.

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They come in the evening and leave in the morning to hustle. Nobody disturbs them.

Each night, artisans, idlers, and migrants spread mats and fold bedspreads on the bare concrete, seeking shelter from the elements. By morning, they disperse to work or seek opportunities, only to return in the evening. The area carries the scent of damp concrete and urine, with drainage channels clogged by debris, a situation residents say has worsened significantly since March.

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Apart from defacing the aesthetics of the flyover, the development escalates population pressure on public infrastructure, social services and security vulnerabilities.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) first raised concerns in June, warning that the "increasing influx of undocumented migrants and persons of unknown identities" was straining city resources and creating security vulnerabilities. The union called for enhanced surveillance and intelligence gathering, urging the state government to develop lawful mechanisms for addressing the issue.

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The government through the Delta State Environmental Task Force must use environmental laws to evacuate these miscreants who are a nuisance and security risk.

Following a lack of government response, civil society organizations have intensified calls for action. The Forum of Delta State NGOs described the situation as a nuisance and a security risk, urging the Delta State Environmental Task Force to use environmental laws to evacuate the individuals, predominantly described as "northerners who migrated to Delta State."

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These are predominantly northerners who migrated to Delta State, constituting a nuisance and must be flushed out.