Body Seeks FG’s Attention On East, West Road Project

A passionate appeal had gone to the federal government over the deplorable condition of the East West Road, which had of recent become a death trap.

The leadership of the East West Road Residents Association in a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Chief Wofuru Okparaolu lamented the slow pace of work on the road which had resulted into frequent loss of lives of innocent travellers due to the numerous potholes and gaping ditches.

The body said the road which traversed Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State needed urgent attention, and accused the Ministry of Niger Delta and the federal government of playing politics with the road project, as it affects the entire people of south-south geo-political zone.

“A situation where a very important road like the East-West Road which is a hub of economic activities in the south-south is abandoned with levity by the Ministry of Niger Delta is most unfortunate”, a spokesman of the association lamented.

Following the frequent cases of accidents resulting to loss of lives including incessant attacks by armed robbers who took advantage of the bad spots to rob innocent citizens, the association had a crucial meeting at Ahoada in Ahoada East Local Government and condemned the levity the federal government has displayed over the East West Road project.

The body appealed to the government to save the road users from the hazards posed by the road as its present deplorable condition is alarming.

It also appealed to the ministry supervising the road project to mobilise the workers to go to site before the rains set in, saying that the patience of the residents of the area should not be taken for granted.

Meanwhile, shop owners along the road whose houses and stores were marked for demolition since 2006, and have not been paid their compensations are crying out bitterly that tenants had stopped paying rents on the houses and shops, a situation they claimed had impoverished them.