Commissioner Alerts On East-West Road

The Federal Government, has been called upon to declare a state of emergency on the state of the East-West  Road in order to avoid further loss of lives as a result of the deplorable condition of the road.

A commissioner in the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Mbadiwe Allen Ewoh made the call while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, on the recent petrol tanker fire disaster at Okogbe in  Ahoada West Local Government Area.

Chief Ewoh stated that the non-completion of the East-West Road by the Federal Governemnt was the major cause of the petrol tanker fire incident that claimed several lives at Okogbe.

He lamented the loss of lives which had increased to over 200 as a result of the fire incident that emanated from the tanker carrying fuel that fell along the road, and described it as the worst disaster in recent times in the country.

The commissioner  stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently release funds to complete the road which he said was the gate way to the South South States of the Federation.

Chief Ewoh who is the immediate past chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada West Local Government  Area, said that more deaths are being recorded daily due to the ugly incident and commended the action of the state governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for suspending all his official engagement for the period to see things for himself and also sponsoring the medical bills of victims still receiving treatment in various hospitals.

He disclosed that the disaster had rendered the people of Okogbe, Ogbede, Uyakama, Ula-Okobo, Emezi and other Ekpeye communities and passer-by to lose their young men in hundreds while some families have been wiped out.

The commissioner advocated for relieve materials to those who lost their bread winners and others deprived of their source of livelihood by the federal and state governments, as well as, non-governmental organisations.

Chief Ewoh condoled with HRH Eze J. Eyiba, chiefs and people of Okogbe and its surrounding communities that were affected by the disaster and prayed God to grant them the grace to bear the irreparable loss.