The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has advised Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to fix dilapidated Federal Housing/3-3/Nkwelle Roads all leading to Onitsha and extend palliative works to St Stephen Seminary Road leading to Nkwelle Junction.
The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, gave the advice on Thursday in Enugu while speaking with newsmen on the dilapidated roads leading to Onitsha and the pain the residents face daily.
Ezekwueme said that it was imperative that the government listened to cries, excruciating sufferings and pains experienced by residents, citizens, commuters, and visitors living around Federal Housing, 3-3, Nsugbe and Nkwelle axis on a daily basis.
He said this pain is due to deplorable and dilapidated condition of the roads within that axis of the state even as the roads lead to the commercial city of Onitsha. “A journey that is supposed to take 20 minutes; now takes between two to three hours on a daily basis.
“Most pathetic and unbelievable is the exorbitant cost of transportation in the area. The unbridled quest for wealth by commercial drivers plying the roads makes the situation unbearable and despicable.
“It is no exaggeration but existential reality that they charge between N500 and N800 in a journey that is supposed to cost N200. Sometimes residents sleep in their relatives’ and friends’ houses at Onitsha due to traffic jams and escalating cost of transportation.”
The CLO boss called on Governor Soludo to urgently award a contract for construction and rehabilitation of Obinna Ilo Street that would link 3-3 with Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government and 3-3 to Nkwelle junction. He said that by doing this, it will certainly in no small measure create a quick flowing access road and decongest heavy traffic in 3-3 and Federal Housing roads.
“His Excellency should in his usual magnanimity send his commissioners for works and transport to pay working and accessible visits to the areas to enable the government to take urgent and immediate actions.
“There is no doubt in our minds that this will inject more life and hope in the citizens and ameliorate their plights and predicament. We equally thank his Excellency for massive ongoing road constructions and rehabilitations across the state and revolution in our educational system,” he said.
