Women from the Ntsuruakpa Izhia community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State staged a protest on Tuesday against incessant road crashes, condemning the poor condition of a section of the Abakaliki-Enugu highway.
The protesters claimed that the abandonment of the road project had led to series of fatal accidents along the highway daily.
Consequently, the women blocked the Dual Carriageway near the Sam Egwu Flyover at the Ezzamgbo Junction, expressing their disappointment over the slow progress of the road rehabilitation, which the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has been overseeing since last year.
The women emphasised that their protest was aimed at voicing their grievances to the Government and warned that they were prepared to escalate their actions if their concerns were not addressed.
Blessing Okweshi, the leader of the protesting women, expressed sorrow over the abandoned project and its role in causing road accidents that had claimed lives, including those of residents. She recounted a recent accident that occurred on Sunday, resulting in the tragic death of a pregnant woman along the road.
“On Sunday, Chika Unah, a mother of three, was killed on this neglected road by a lorry driver who fled the scene without reporting to the police,” she said. “Many lives have been lost along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway, and it’s evident how potholes and debris have accumulated on the roads without proper signage since 2024.
Read also: We’ve completed 47 road projects in Ebonyi in 18 months – Nwifuru
“This is why we have come together to stage this peaceful protest, to condemn this dire situation, as our people are tired of losing lives due to the slow pace of road project execution.”
Hellen Nweonwe and Obiageri Owoh, among others, shared their concerns about the abandoned road project, describing the route as a death trap.
Eze Joseph Ozogbuo Okafor, the traditional ruler of the Ntsuruakpa Izhia community, criticised the contractor responsible for the road rehabilitation and urged immediate action to prevent further accidents.
He called on the State and Federal Governments to intervene without delay to expedite the project, stating, “Nobody is happy with the tragic condition of the road and its deadly consequences since last year.”
Ikechukwu Odono, the Chairman of the Ohaukwu Local Government Area, and Sunday Inyima, the State Commissioner for Capital Territory and Urban Development, addressed the women, urging them to return to their homes peacefully and assuring them that the contractor would be compelled to accelerate the work immediately.
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