Stakeholders Decry Poor State Of Emohua/Abonnema Road

Skakeholders of the three Kalabari  local government areas of Rivers State, have sent a Save Our Souls (SOS) message to President Goodluck Jonathan over the atate of Emohua/Abonnema federal road, describing the major linkway to their local government  areas as very deplorable.

The stakeholders fear that unless something was done urgently, movement of men and materials during the Yuletide will be a traffic nightmare.

In an interview  with The Tide, Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Ibigoni Daddy Pokima recalled the promise by the President to act, but regretted that the road has gotten  even more deplorable before the President’s commitment.

Mr. Pokima suggested that the Rivers State Government be allowed to work on the road and have such expenses offset by the Federal Government.

This he said, would be the fastest solution to the problem  since Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi  has demonstrated  sufficient  readiness to come to the rescue of the Kalabari people if there is proper commitment on the part of the road owners.

In his remarks, member representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the National  Assembly, Dr. Sokonte Davies, lamented the deplorable  state of the road, attributing it to heavy traffic often experienced on the road, particularly  by heavy trucks which ply it at random.

He, expressed  the hope that with on-going  conversations   between his constituency  and the Federal Government, it would soon attract positive attention.

Two commercial  motorists, Innocent Ebi and Jonathan Ibikari said they have since changed their routes from the Emohua/Abonnema Road to the Port Harcourt city due to the poor state of the road.

A trader, Mrs. Alaye Dokubo recounted her horror in transporting  her wares to and from Elele during market days, and called on the local government area to carry out remedial  efforts  for  trade and commence  to thrive particularly during the forthcoming Yuletide.

She said because of the poor state of the road, the prices of basic  food items are negatively affected since few commercial vehicles that brave the deplorable road demand high transport fares.