DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF ROADS IN SOUTH EAST WORRY USERS

The deplorable condition of roads in the South East zone of the country, particularly the Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway is increasingly worrying the users.

To this end, some concerned citizens and commuters on the Enugu/Port Harcourt express way, want the governments of Imo and Abia states to urgently intervene in the reconstruction of the road to minimize the suffering of travelers.

Prominent among them are some bureaucrats who argue that governments of the two states should work on portions of the road within their states and ask for refunds from the Federal Government.

First to speak is a top Federal Civil Servant, Chief OkechukwuIbekwe who highlighted the economic implications of the road to users and lamented the huge losses occasioned by the condition of the road.

Another top Civil Servant, Mr Edward Okolo decries the development, pointing out that many lives and property are lost daily.

Two commercial drivers, Mr.Uzo Chibuike and Mr. Innocent Ngwu claimed that they spent several hours with the attendant damage to their vehicles every day.

They appealed to those in positions of authority to save lives and property on the road.

Reacting to the development, the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Works, Mr Richard Nwala highlighted efforts so far put in place to upgrade the federal highways and explained some of the problems encountered in the process.

Efforts to get reactions from government officials in Imo state failed as the executive council had been dissolved as at the time of filing this report.

When contacted the Controller, Federal Ministry of Works in Enugu, Mr. Olajire Oyetade said, all things being equal, the main reconstruction of federal roads across the country would be completed in the next two years.

According to him, directives have been giving to contractors especially in the South East to carry out palliative measures on them to ensure smooth vehicular movement in the yuletide.

EMMA NWEKE