Motorists in Abia and Imo States have expressed frustration over deteriorating road conditions, attributing the issue to years of neglect and insufficient maintenance by authorities.
Many residents and commuters in the region told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the poor state of roads has significantly impacted their businesses and increased vehicle repair costs.
Chukwuebuka Ofondu, a commuter bus driver in Owerri, described how the roads have hurt his livelihood, as frequent repairs are now draining his earnings. “When roads were in better condition, I could support my family comfortably. Now, maintenance eats into my meagre income,” he said, urging state and federal governments to address the situation.
A truck driver, Polycarp Ibe, acknowledged improvements on major routes like the Owerri-Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe highways, which he says will ease movement during Christmas. However, he noted that rural roads still require urgent grading to facilitate smoother travel for residents returning to villages over the festive period.
Angela Ubah, a school vice principal, raised concerns over dust from damaged roads affecting residents’ health, while Ikeduru farmer Chief Benjamin Uzondu highlighted that improved rural roads would allow more accessible transport of produce to markets.
In response, Imo’s Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu, assured residents that the government would expedite rural road construction across all 27 local councils. Each council will receive five kilometres of new roads as part of a rural empowerment project, aiming to link rural and urban areas more seamlessly.
Residents in Abia appealed for key road improvements. Legal practitioner Okey Nnamdi urged the completion of essential routes and called for the employment of road engineers within the Ministry of Works to ensure timely maintenance.
Acting Project Coordinator of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Projects (RAAMP), Donatus Chinyere, confirmed that efforts are underway to rehabilitate rural roads and boost accessibility in remote communities.
