ABAKALIKI—Women of the Ntsuruakpa Izhia community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State took to the roads, Tuesday protesting against the abandoned road projects causing accidents along the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway.
The women numbering over 900, who, came out in the early hours, blocked the dualised Abakaliki-Enugu expressway Flyover at Ezzamgbo junction in Ohaukwu council area, expressed sadness over the slow pace of the road project execution currently undergoing rehabilitation since last year.
The leader of the women, Mrs Blessing Okweshi, lamented that the abandoned project has been causing accidents resulting in the deaths of residents and others plying the road.
She said: “The worst among the deadly accidents occurred on this road last Sunday, and it consumed the lives of a pregnant mother with her unborn baby and a man on the spot.
“Many lives have been lost along this Abakaliki-Enugu highway, and you can see how potholes are dug on the roads, with heaps littered on the roads without road signs since 2024.”
The traditional ruler of Ntsuruakpa Izhia community, HRH Eze Joseph Ozogbuo Okafor, in his remarks, blamed the contractor handling the road project and called for urgent action to avert further accidents causing the death of those using the road.
Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Prince Ikechukwu Odono, who came to the scene of the protest, urged the women to embrace peace by going back to their homes, with assurance that the contractor would be compelled to complete the work without any further delay.
Vanguard