Butchers Task RSG On Road Project

Butchers at Egbelu Slaughter in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have urged the state government to direct the contractor building the road to their market to return to site.

The Director, Cooperative Butchers Nigeria Ltd, Egbelu slaughter, Alhaji Ajulo Olarewaju, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that butchers and other traders who used the slaughter had experienced hardship due to the poor state of the road.

He said that the contractor handling the 5.5km Egbelu-Ogbogoro road that led to the market abandoned the job for more than a year.

“The road is now in a deplorable condition and it is taking its toll on our business.

“For instance, when the road was good, we slaughter as much as 40 cows a day but these days, we kill only eight or 10 cows a day.

“Same goes for goats. We were slaughtering 80 goats daily when the road was good but today, we kill six to eight goats.

“We no longer have good business because all our customers have deserted us due to the bad road.

“We are aware that government has awarded contract to reconstruct the road but nothing is happening there now.”

Ajulo said that the road was strategic because it could link four communities in the local government area, adding that all communities in the area were food-producing.

“With good road, road, all the farmers in these communities will bring their produce to the market here at the slaughter and business will be good for everybody.”

He expressed optimism that it was not late yet for work to resume on the contract, adding that something could still be done before the rainy season would begin in April.

“Constructing the road will save residents of the area from further hardship; It is a small road but very strategic for business because people here use it daily to go to work at Port Harcourt.

“Most of the residents used to stop at the slaughter to do shopping but since the road became very deplorable, they shop at Port Harcourt and face the challenge of carrying them.

“We sincerely appeal to the state government to intervene and save us from further suffering by directing the contractor to return to site,” Ajulo stressed.