The Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, a civil society organisation, has cried out over the deplorable condition of some major federal roads within the South-East.
Vincent Ezekwueme, the chairman of CLO in Anambra State, said this while speaking with journalists in Enugu on Sunday, October 27, 2019, on the worsening condition of federal roads.
Ezekwueme said that the federal roads included; the Enugu-Onitsha, Owerri-Onitsha, Otuocha-33-Onitsha, among others.
He pleaded with the Federal Government to save the lives of commuters and other road users by intervening and ameliorating the pathetic situation.
“It is very painful and despicable that human and material resources are lost on daily basis due to inaccessible roads.
“Due to pitiable condition of the roads especially Enugu-Onitsha and Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highways articulated vehicles incessantly fall and cause horrendous and horrible hold-ups and accidents on the roads,” he said.
The CLO boss called on the Federal Government to declare state of emergency on major Federal roads in the South-East.
According to him, there was a dire need to proffer emergency solution because they are not only dead traps, but life threatening.
“We urge the minister of works and housing to direct the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to commence urgent palliative measures on these roads.
“A journey of two hours now extends to six hours including wear and tear of vehicles due to the deplorable state of the roads.
“It is pertinent to note that if urgent palliatives works are not embarked upon, it will very cumbersome if not impossible for citizenry to travel to their country-home using these roads during the forthcoming Christmas celebration.”
