Following the completion
of the Eagle Island road project by the Rivers State Government under Governor Nyesom Wike barely two months into his administration, residents and other road users have called for the expansion of the Iloabuchi axis of the road.
A cross section of the residents who spoke to our correspondent said when the Eagle Island Road would fully be opened to the public it would attract more traffic.
According to Mrs. Nkiru Orlu, a timber dealer at the popular timber market, the government should correspondingly expand the Iloabuchi road to avoid hold-up.
She explained that as soon as the road was opened to all manner of traffic, the area would witness increase in both vehicular and human traffic.
“Let me tell you, as soon as government commissions this road, people will no longer go through Ikwerre Road and Agip axis to get to Eagle Island,” she said.
She explained that the development would cause hold-up on daily basis throughout the length and breadth of the over used Iloabuchi street.
For Boniface Andrew, a landlord at one of the adjoining streets, the Iloabuchi Street should be expanded.
He said though it was evident that houses would be made to give way, he expressed confidence that the Rivers State government was capable of paying compensation to those whose property may be affected.
Andrew also opined that the market should be moved farther away from the Iloabuchi main road even as he accused timber traders of encroaching on the street during their business hours.
Also lending his voice, a taxi driver who gave his name as Asuquo Akpan and plys the Education/Iloabuchi route, said expansion of the road was long over due.
According to him, most commercial drivers avoid the Iloabuchi road due to its narrowness coupled with the poor state of the road.
He said it was evident that when the Eagle Island road was fully open to the public, the Iloabuchi axis would be over stretched.
“No doubt, as soon as they open that road (Eagle Island) every person will like to use it especially bus and taxi drivers,” he said.
It would be recalled that Governor Wike gave directive to the contractor handling the abandoned Eagle Island road project shortly after he was sworn in as governor in May 29, 2015.
The road has since been completed and awaiting commissioning.