Business
Traders, Drivers Bemoan Poor State Of Etche Road

President, Nigeria Bar Association, Chief Okey Wali, Speaking at the Valedictory Court Session in Honour of Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa in Abuja on Thursday (19/6/14). Photo: NAN
Commercial drivers and traders plying Etche-Port Harcourt Road have decried the poor state of the Chokocho segment of the road.
Some of the drivers who spoke to The Tide yesterday appealed to the Rivers State Government and Etche Local Government Council to come to the aid of the people by rehabilitating the road.
Mr. Emeka Nwuju, a Commercial Bus driver said, “the road has become a nightmare for the past two years”, and stressed that the road situation is now worse with the rains.
He appealed to the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and the newly appointed Etche Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon. Charles Anyanwu to consider the trauma being suffered by people of the area and the general public and rehabilitate the road without further delay.
Another driver Chimamkpa Amaechi also expressed disappointment with the current state of the road.
He particularly appealed to the Etche Council boss, to give priority attention to the road by ensuring that the road was put in order for the people.
Others who suffer more on the road are the traders who daily travel to Etche to buy products from the local markets.
Mrs Clara Nwochi bemoaned the state of the road. According to her, “this is what we suffer every day we come to Etche market. You know things are cheaper there”, but regretted that due to the poor state of the road, commercial drivers do resort to charging high transport fares.
“By the time the drivers increase the fares, the cost of the goods also go higher so that we meet the lost incurred”, she stated.
She appealed to the oil companies operating in Etche and the government to come to their aid.
Nwochi regretted that even the Igbo Etche-Port Harcourt road that could have provided an alternative route has also become impassable and motorists have for over three years abandoned the route.
Chris Oluoh