Bad Road Stalls Business In Community

Shop owners along
Rumuagholu road, off Rumuokoro Junction in the Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State have called on the contractor handling the road to come to site to enable them reopen their shops.
A cross section of some of the shop owners who spoke to our correspondent said they were forced to close shop as the road has become impassable to both vehicles and pedestrians.
According to Joel Ibekwe who operates a fashion shop along the road and spoke to our correspondent said customers have deserted them due to the poor condition of the road.
He said it was worrisome that after four years the contractor has not come to site.
A taxi driver who also spoke to our correspondent, Mr. Wale Kehinde said most of his colleagues had to change route due to the bad road.
He said the money he spends in servicing his vehicle was not commensurate with his returns even as he said the route has been overtaken by tricycle operators, popularly called “Keke Napep.”
Speaking to The Tide, one of the operators said he had no option but to operate along the route as an indigene of the area.
According to him, most of the Shop  owners found it difficult to pay for the shops that was why they had to suspend their businesses for the meantime.
However, efforts to speak with the paramount ruler of Rumuagholu Community was not successful but an elder who spoke to our correspondent under anonymity said he suspects political undertones in the abandoned road project.
He expressed worried that a road awarded by the Rivers State Government should be abandoned.
However, several efforts to speak with the Rivers State Commissioner for Mr Victor Giadom was not successful even as text messages and calls put through to his press officer were not acknowledged before going to press.
It could be recalled that the project for the construction and expansion of Rumuagholu Road (Rumnokoro Roundabout), Prof. Tam David West Boulevard, Elder Emmanuel Amadi road, East West Road-Rumuagholu, Nkpolu Road and Okemini bypass was awarded to Toxcor Nigeria Limited, Several years ago by the Rivers State government.
The project which falls directly under the supervision of the state ministry of works has not seen the light of day ever since.