Residents Decry Traffic Congestion In Owerri

The people of Imo State have decried the traffic congestion in Owerri, especially on Amakohia-Orlu road.

A cross section of motorists said the congestion was already giving them stress.

A civil servant, Mrs Chidinma Ibe, said the traffic on the road had become alarming, frustrating and increasing the pressure of work.

“It really affects productivity because when you wake up early hoping to reach office in time, one ends up going late. By the time one gets there stressed, one will end up doing little that day. “A drive of three minutes now takes one hour sometimes,” she lamented.

Ibe noted that the congestion was caused by the lack of alternate routes and appealed to the state government to create more roads.

Also reacting, a student, Miss Ezinne Obidiaso, said she faced the congestion on her way to school, especially on Mondays, adding that it made her to miss her lectures. “Normally I have 8 a.m. lectures but because of the delay, I miss my lectures most times,’’ she said.

A trader, Mrs Onyeka Egeonu, said she encountered the congestion both in the morning and evening, pointing out that tricyclists worsened the situation.

Another trader, Mrs Ifeyinwa Eze, said the road needed to be expanded to accommodate more cars at the same time and appealed to the government to intervene.