The people of Ohaji in Ohaji Egbema LGA of Imo State have decried the deplorable condition of the Owerri-Port Harcourt Expressway calling on state and federal government to intervene quickly to reduce the sufferings of road users.
Speaking to our correspondent, the Town Union President of Umuapu Autonomous Community, Daniel Clifford Ogbuehi said the road is always busy as it serves as a major link connecting Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa States.
He, however, lamented that the road had been in a bad state for a long time without gaining attention from both the state and federal governments
Ogbuehi recalled that it was during the reconstruction of the road to a double lane during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan that the road was briefly touched and later abandoned to date.
He informed that his community stands as a boundary between Imo and Rivers State narrating that at the side of Rivers State, there is a smooth ride to Port Harcourt while on the side of Imo State is dilapidated, warning that the road is potential death trap to the commuters.
Ogbuehi observed that the particular bad spot of the road falls within his community and has made life too difficult for the people who use the road daily.
“When going to our farms we suffer, when going to the market, we suffer, then at home, we don’t sleep as motorists disturb our sleep while looking for alternative routes.
”Businesses no longer thrive as young entrepreneurs are seen leaving the area in search of more viable places, due to the unfriendly environment caused by the bad condition of the road “he said.
The community leader also revealed that criminals use the bad spots as their target points for robbing passengers
Lending his voice to the call, a community leader from Awarra Autonomous Community, Chijioke Osimiri said more than five heavy-laden trucks fall on the road daily which hampers vehicular movements to the detriment of passengers.
“The major users of this road are the governments and the oil companies, most of the trucks that fall on this road belong to the oil companies and still they find it difficult to put it in good shape, “he remarked.
He narrated that several protests have been carried out to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to no avail
