RAINY SEASON IN PARAKOU: When the road network becomes a trap for road users
In Parakou, the return of the rainy season brings back a familiar ordeal. Key routes across the « City of the Koburu » transform into temporary waterways, giving way to stubborn mud and gaping potholes. Between rising transport fares, endless traffic jams, and frequent accidents, simply getting around has become an obstacle course.
The asphalt gives way at the first sign of torrential rain. Water stagnates, eroding the bitumen and widening cracks. Motorcyclists and drivers are forced to crawl along to protect their vehicles and avoid crashing. Near markets and the city center, economic activity is bogged down: commuters wade through the muck, vendors set up stalls in the mud, and heavy trucks struggle to deliver their goods.
The rapid deterioration of road infrastructure stems from a combination of factors:
Inadequate drainage systems: The network of gutters is undersized and frequently clogged with household waste, preventing runoff drainage. However, the company SGDS has recently been working tirelessly to tackle this issue.
Structural fragility: Constant water seepage weakens the road surface and accelerates the formation of potholes.
Lack of technical oversight: The use of unsuitable materials and a lack of preliminary impact assessments shorten the lifespan of roads, necessitating constant repairs.
To break this cycle, local residents are calling for quality infrastructure, rigorous project monitoring, and sustainable drainage systems. For their part, municipal authorities are emphasizing the importance of civic responsibility and urging residents to stop clogging drainage channels with refuse.
Without structural reforms and a shift in collective behavior, the people of Parakou will continue to face the challenges brought by the rains, to the detriment of safety and local development.
Azoumi KORA (Intern)
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