Imo residents and motorists have expressed dissatisfaction on the deplorable state of inland roads in the state , as the 2024 Yuletide nears.
Some of the respondents who spoke to C-Advocate in Owerri, said they are worried about the state of roads in the state because it is affecting their businesses as they are almost going to the mechanics every week to repair their vehicles due to the deplorable nature of the roads in the state.
Mr Chukwuebuka Ofondu, a bus driver in Owerri, said the state of roads in the city is affecting his business greatly as he always goes to the mechanics to repair his bus due to bad roads.
Ofondu, said the years when the roads were good he used to make enough money to take care of his family unlike now roads are bad, he doesn’t make enough money to fend his family and service his vehicle.
According to him, he spends much of the money he makes on the mechanics, because of the nature of roads in the state.
He urged the federal and the state governments to come to their aid and repair the roads in the state as it is affecting their transport business greatly.
“You know how expensive things are these days and almost every week I have to repair one part of my vehicle or another because of bad roads, coupled with other charges we pay for plying the roads to the state and local governments.
” So,the transporters almost go home everyday with little or no money to take care of families. Really we are only managing and not making enough money to take care of ourselves and families. And I am calling on the governments to please come and assist us as it is only this transportation business we are doing to eke out a living”, he said.
A truck driver, Mr Polycarp Ibe, said that with the construction of the Owerri-Orlu / Owerri-Okigwe Highways, movement of persons and goods during the Yuletide “will be seamless “.
He however called for more work, especially the grading of rural roads to enable Imo people to have access to their homes and see their loved ones during festivities.
Mr Ekene Maduka, a commercial driver said that plying the federal roads does not pose as many challenges as the rural roads, as the latter are “really in bad state this time around “.
He called for temporary efforts to improve the state of rural roads especially as the Yuletide nears.
Mrs Angela Ubah, a school Vice- Principal, said that among other challenges associated with bad roads in the state is the prevalence of dust from dirty roads which eventually affects vision.
She called on relevant authorities to water the roads , especially the muddy parts, to save residents from eye disease.
Chief Benjamin Uzondu , a rural farmer from Ikeduru council area of the state said that with the construction of rural roads by the state government, he would be able to convey his products to Owerri, the state capital, and hope to make brisk sales during the season.
“ It’s a different situation this year because some of the roads in my area have been fixed but others remain untouched.
“ If the roads can be fixed, it will do us a lot of good this season as it will aid movement of persons and goods “, he said.
Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Imo , Mr Chibunna Nwamgborogwu, said that the corps recently launched its ember months campaign to ensure hitch- free celebrations.
He added that the campaign was to reassure road users of their safety and minimize traffic congestions during the yuletide season.
Our correspondent however reports that the Imo Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu had earlier assured Imo people that the state government would expedite the mass construction of rural roads in the 27 local government areas of the state.
Nwosu said that in the first phase, 5km roads would be constructed in each LGA as part of the state government’s rural empowerment initiative.
He said all necessary contractual agreements had been reached, adding that work had already begun in some of the locations, despite the rainy season.
According to him, the construction of rural roads, with linking roads to the urban areas, will make Imo a “one city” state, in which the capital city can be accessed from all parts of the state.
