FENRAD cries out over sorry state of Aba-PortHarcourt expressway

Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), a pro democracy group has expressed worries over the horrible state of Aba-PortHarcourt expressway, more especially, between the axis of Osisioma-Ngwa junction and Imo River near Oyigbo in Rivers State which has made life very difficult for motorists plying the ever busy road.

In a statement by the executive director of the advocacy group, comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor which a copy was made available to NewsBand, has appealed to the federal government of Nigeria to take immediate action in order to address the unfortunate state of the road, as this will assuage the suffering of the people.

Read the full statement below.

THE SORRY STATE OF ABA-PORTHARCOURT EXPRESS WAY(DUAL CARRIAGE WAY).

1. Life has be come so hellic for road users and roadside dwellers of ABA-PORTHARCOURT EXPRESS WAY. Between Osisioma-Ngwa junction in ABA Abia State and Imo River near Oyigbo in Rivers State is the most horrible section of the road. The sordid experience being encountered by the motorists plying within that Section of the road is inexplicable.

2. In the past years before the advent of the present federal government, the respective stakeholders had expressed serious concern prompting them to engage in divers measures to call on the then federal government to consider rehabilitating the road between ABA Abia State and Eleme junction in Rivers State. This agitations were on until the coming of the present government in 2015.

3. The next time we checked, it was noticed that a road construction company called China Civil was doing some works on the Section of the road between Oyigbo and Eleme junction in Rivers State.

3. In what we considered as road infrastructures delivery segregation by federal government that the constitution of the road in question falls in its purview, as we observed that the Section of Oyigbo to Eleme junction has been fully reconstructed and completed with four lanes on each side leaving us with posing questions especially as we noticed that nothing is being done on the side of Abia State.

4. Now the question agitating for answers is:
A. Why did China Civil desert the constitution site after completion of the section of Oyigbo to Eleme Junction?

B. What plans has federal government to effect rehabilitation on the Section from Osisioma Ngwa junction in ABA to Oyigbo in Rivers State.

C. Is Sokuk funds as federal government said it is being used to finance the reconstructions of federal roads not covering Abia State?
D. Is the Section of the road between ABA and Oyigbo not part of ABA -PortHarcourt express way?

5. ABA to be precised is one of the major commercial centers in the south south and southeast regions such that any deficit on road infrastructure will grossly affect the inter state trade relations thereby declining the revenue generation both to states and federal government.

6. In 2011, there was a conceived plan by the then federal government to build container terminal at aba given the proven fact that Onne Wharf in Eleme Rivers has majority of her business importers at aba the commercial city of Abia State following this too, it was irrevocably found that the rate of vehicular movements especially Articulated Vehicles were unimaginable that constance maintenance attention was required to keep the road in efficient services for an uninterrupted access to vehicle’s toe and fro movement Onne Wharf in Rivers State and ABA in Abia State.

7. FENRAD in conjunction with other stakeholders were worried that following their socio-economic inclusive survey on the effect of citizens in relation to the poor condition of the road given the activities of the two major states of Abia and rivers, it become imperative that the respective government should give a desirable facelift to this all important dual carriage way.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
1. While the Section between Oyigbo and Eleme junction in Rivers State has completed with great relieve to motorists, Federal government should consider the remaining section from Oyigbo to Osisioma Ngwa junction in ABA Abia State.

2. We commend the federal government of Nigeria on its strong commitments in delivery of infrastructures in the South East which is examplified in: Enugu-Umuahia road, Enugu-Abakalike, Umuahia-Aba road, Second Niger bridge criss crossing Asaba in Delta State to Onitsha-Owerri road in Anambra state. Just to mention but few.

3. The same pace at which the federal government is using to provide infrastructures in other sectors across the regions of the country, let it also show practical attention to this season of ABA-PORTHARCOURT EXPRESS WAY by propelling Arab contractors that is already at Osisioma-Ngwa side to fast track the work as delay is dangerous and could be denial.

4. Pictures depicting the scene and condition of the road have been annexed. The site is very pitiable..

From comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Executive Director
Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD Nigeria) Abia state.