By Ugochukwu Alaribe
UMUAHIA – The Igbo Community Association ,Abuja, has tasked the Minister of Works,Engr. David Umahi, to urgently make efforts to fix the federal highway linking the South East zone with other parts of the country before the yuletide.
In a statement by its President General and Emmanuel Onah, Nze Ikenna Ellis- Ezenekwe and Emmanuel Onah, respectively, the group said it is worried over the silence of the federal government to the deplorable state of federal road networks connecting the South-East geo-political zone with the rest of the country.
It noted that key arterial routes linking the South-East to the South-West, North-Central, and South-South regions have become death traps, causing motorists and commuters to suffer severe gridlock, destruction of vehicles, loss of lives and heightened security risks.
The statement read;”A striking case in point is the Benin-Agbor- Asaba corridor—a vital arterial gateway linking the South-West and South-East.
“Despite initial public pushback and political friction when concerns were raised over this route, recent events and public outcry eventually led the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, to inspect the corridor and offer an apology to stranded motorists for the severe hardship caused by the failed sections.
“While we acknowledge the Minister’s recent intervention, this situation underscores a broader, systemic issue: critical transit routes leading into the South-East are routinely neglected until they reach catastrophic levels.
“As the Yuletide season approaches—a period characterized by high-volume travel across the country—it is imperative that the Federal Ministry of Works prioritizes immediate rehabilitation of these federal corridors.
“Restoring these roads is essential not only to prevent avoidable road casualties but also to mitigate security vulnerabilities facing travelers.
The Igbo Community Association also urged the federal government to ensure fairness and equity in the allocation of national infrastructure resources to the geo political zones.
“South-Easterners are equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project and deserve safe, accessible, and functional federal road networks.
”The ICA remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the dignity of the Igbo-speaking people while advocating for infrastructure development that serves all Nigerians.”
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