How Long Shall We Wait?

The sun pierces through the evergreen vegetation throwing golden rays of light that discrete the early morning dews from the grasses.

Previously, the sky was discontented with the heavy rain by felicitating a semi circle ray of colours indicating gradual end to this year raining season.

These seasonal phenomena were synonymous with the down town Rumuokwuta/Choba area before the dualisation of the road to ease traffic congestion along East/West and Rumuokwuta/Ikwerre roads.

The Rumuokwuta/Choba road dualisation contract was awarded to Homan Engineering Company Limited in December 2007, specifically to lessen the sufferings of those plying through it for their daily activities. But the reverse has been the case as completion of the project remains a mirage base on the company’s dictates when to be at the site and when to relax.

During the peak of the rainy season when the rage of the flood could not be contained, the company suspended work except for the construction of  the damage systems. Now that the rain has subsided, the project continues to move on a snail speed. During the past Moslem feastival and Nigeria independence celebrations, the company was off the road to observe the public holidays while the company handling the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola road utilised the advantage of less traffics on the roads to do major works.

Whereas the vehicles that ply this road continue to nosedive into the muddy pot holes that dot the entire length of the road, the expectations of the people hang to the dry season. Hope that the pot holes will dry up given free movement to pedestrians.

The dry season will trigger a new form of sufferings that will dash the peoples’ hope. The muddy sand will cake and be slippery. For those who mistakenly place their feet on the caked mud will have their shoes disappear in the mud. Dust created by movement of vehicles will make breathing difficult, causing irritation in the eyes.

Mrs Mlasinghani, a house wife, lamented the difficulties in feeding her house hold due to lake of vehicles to convey her to the market. She said cost of transport has risen drastically and cost of goods in the market triple.

An anonymous driver who happens to be the few still plying the road said he washes his vehicle’s engine daily and the radiator twice weekly.

He attributed these to the bad road. To remain in business he charges N200 per passenger from Rumuokwuta to Choba while those who alighted before Choba pay N150.

The burden has been so much on the business men, re-sidents and students who use the road on daily basis. It has been tales of frustration and disappointment as hunger and tears prevail. Some people have deserted the area leaving the Landlords in abject poverty. The area now looks like a war zone. No thanks to the ASSU strike which has kept many students indoor while expectations last, subject to the dry season.

Efforts to speak with the project supervisor of the contracting firm failed as the workers on site refused to cooperate. From all indications, the construction of the drainage systems has progressed and the pot holes retrogressing.

The people are hopeful that the contractor will hasten work on the project to give them sign of relief and not to re-live on another rainy season. They also appeal to the Rivers State Government to prevail on the contractor to hasten up and complete the project during this season because more delay will worsen the roads in the built-up areas which are overused and in bad state.

Tolofari is of Production Dept of The Tide Newspapers

Austin Tolofari