The deterioration of several sections of National Roads 12 (N12), between Namialo and Nacala, and 1 (N1), along the Nampula–Namialo corridor, is causing traffic accidents and frequent vehicle breakdowns, especially for heavy trucks. In response, the Nampula provincial government has announced that maintenance work will begin next week.
These roads are part of the Nacala Corridor, considered strategic as it connects the port of Nacala to various regions in the North and Central parts of the country. On the section between the city of Nampula and the administrative post of Namialo, in the Meconta district—part of the N1—the existing potholes represent a constant risk to drivers and goods transporters.
Recently, a truck had an accident on this road. Although it did not overturn directly due to the potholes, it is believed that the vehicle’s overload and imbalance contributed to the incident, in a context of already heavily degraded road conditions.
On the N12, between Namialo and Nacala, over a distance of approximately 100 kilometers, the situation is even more critical, with large potholes in multiple locations. One truck became immobilized after suffering a breakdown caused by hitting one of the craters on the road.
This road, considered the backbone of the North of the country, shows clear signs of wear. The main causes include the frequent overloading of trucks due to the activity at the port of Nacala, compounded by the absence of a weighbridge to control the weight of heavy vehicles.
The governor of Nampula Province recently inspected the section between Nampula city and Monapo, observing the road’s passability issues firsthand. According to official sources, this situation is already well known to the authorities and has been a recurring cause of complaints from road users.
To address the problem, the provincial government has signed two maintenance contracts, each with a duration of two years and valued at approximately 27 million meticais. The interventions aim to improve traffic conditions and reduce accident risks along these important road corridors.
Source: O País
