Commuters have appealed to the relevant authorities to fix the deplorable Asaba-Onitsha Expressway to ease the burden on motorists and residents.
When PUNCH Metro visited the collapsed section of the road, especially from the Koka flyover to the Asaba-Onitsha tollgate, on Thursday, our correspondent observed a complete failure of the road as motorists could hardly access it.
A taxi driver, Mr. Kingsley Uwa, lamented the deplorable state of the road, appealing to the federal and Delta State governments to come to the rescue of the road users by rehabilitating the road to stop the accidents that regularly occur along it.
He said, “It is bad that over four months now, we are suffering from this road without attention from the government.
“You can see the heavy traffic occasioned by the collapsed road. Everybody treks, or they must fall or hit another person because of the bad road. We are begging both the federal and state governments to help.”
Also, a shuttle bus driver, Mr. Charles Jibunor, called on the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to repair the failed portions of the road to ease the suffering of the indigenes.
He said, “The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, plays deaf to the road. We know that it is a federal road, but it passes through Delta State.
“Imagine the look of the Delta State capital, Asaba. Most of the people plying the road are majorly Deltans, and he doesn’t care about our suffering.
“A journey of 20 minutes will take you over two hours because of traffic. Every day, we are in one mechanic or the other, even the traders at the building material along the road are suffering because of no patronage as a result of the bad road.”
Meanwhile, a rights activist, Mr. Victor Ojei, has petitioned the Federal Government following the groaning of commuters occasioned by the collapsed expressway.
In an open letter addressed to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Delta State, seen by PUNCH Metro on Thursday, Ojei called for immediate action on the road.
Ojei, who is the lead activist for Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, frowned upon the negligence of FERMA in the state.
“The Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, a civil society organisation committed to advocating the rights and well-being of citizens, expresses our deep concern regarding the alarming state of federal roads in Delta State. It is with a sense of urgency that we call on the Minister of Works and FERMA Delta State to account for their critical responsibility to ensure safe and passable roads for Nigerians.
“Despite the funds allocated for road maintenance, many federal roads in Delta State remain in deplorable conditions, posing significant risks to the lives of motorists, commuters, and residents.
“Numerous reports and complaints from road users highlight the hazards posed by potholes, erosion, and the neglect of critical infrastructure. These issues not only compromise road safety but also impede economic activities and development.”
He noted that as an agency tasked with maintaining federal roads, FERMA was mandated to regularly inspect, repair, and rehabilitate roads to ensure they meet acceptable standards, noting that the current situation in Delta State showed a clear dereliction of duty, with the people bearing the brunt of this failure.
“Explain the delay in addressing these long-standing road issues, especially along the Asaba-Benin Expressway (Koka flyover By Conoil junction, the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway, Ezenei Avenue by Bonsaac junction, the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway) in Delta State,” the petition concluded.
Ojei said the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens must remain a top priority, urging FERMA to take swift and decisive action to fix the roads because “Failure to act will leave us with no option but to pursue further legal and public interest actions to ensure accountability.”
