Clement Chidinma
On uromi road, drivers, passengers, truck drivers go through hell daily while 80billion Naira is yet to be accounted for
Uromi, Nigeria – Uromi is a city located in north-eastern Esan, a sub-ethnic group of the Edo people in Edo state, Nigeria
The Uromi federal road, which connects several states in Nigeria, has been in a deplorable state, causing significant distress to travelers and truck drivers. The dilapidated condition of this vital transportation route has led to goods and products going to waste and travelers facing agonizing delays
Kelvin Uzorga, a truck driver, shared his ordeal, stating that he and his fellow truck drivers have endured eight days of arduous travel on this treacherous road, regardless of weather conditions. The situation has resulted in substantial losses and disruptions, with customers anxiously waiting for their goods. Some have even been unable to find a place to take a bath during this extended journey.
Another passenger, who is preparing for his wedding in a month, narrated his nightmarish experience on the Uromi road. He encountered multiple traffic jams along the route, leading to him unloading his belongings from one vehicle to board another after an excruciating eight-day journey. This has instilled a fear of returning to carry the items he needs for his upcoming marriage.
“Three places na in I meet hold up as I dey comot from agbede I enter Uromi as I dey comot from Uromi I enter agbor From agbor na in I vex I leave my loads inside motor I go enter another transport after 8 days oh, Sunday to Monday that hold up ehhh God forbid , na in make I edy fear now to go Carry the things way I need for my marriage.” ” The groom said”
Fabby a passenger when interviewed he said,
While passing through the federal road along uromi and obiaja in edo state I experienced the worst road I have ever seen, where by a short distance of 2-3km will be taken up to hours to cross
Often it takes days to travel a journey that should be less than a few hours. “It was a frustrating experience that led to the damage of our car, and many other vehicles on the bad toad and causing serious traffic. I think the government has to do something about it,Many trucks have been on the road for days”
Travelers passing through the Uromi and Obiaja sections in Edo State have experienced one of the worst roads they’ve ever encountered. Short distances have taken hours to traverse, leading to car damage, a pileup of vehicles on the road, and severe traffic congestion. Many truck drivers have been stranded for days, exacerbating the overall situation.
Motorists and travelers on the Uromi road now face harrowing experiences that turn a journey from Benin to Warri, typically completed in less than an hour, into a lengthy and harrowing ordeal lasting hours, if not days.
Despite huge budget allocation, FERMA and other agencies maintained silence
During President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the President approved the release of N80 billion for the reconstruction of the deteriorating Sapele-Benin road and the Amukpe Amukpe-Agbor-Uromi road. This announcement came during a meeting with members of the Christian Council of Nigeria, as revealed by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate and APC governorship candidate in Delta.
Omo-Agege acknowledged that the road’s contract had been awarded previously, but its progress stalled. He emphasized the need for the road’s rehabilitation and how it could boost the local economy. He also expressed his commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to return to Delta State if he’s elected governor in 2023.
The residents of Uromi hope that these developments will lead to much-needed improvements in their road infrastructure, allowing for safer and more efficient travel, reducing goods and product wastage, and easing the travel burdens on drivers and passengers alike.
With the daily challenges faced by residents along this axis and with no serious action taken, this reporter reached out to Controller as well as other officers of the Agency through phone calls, emails to no avail. For over a month plus, this reporter made every effort to hear from these officers and till this time of going to the press, there has been no one to respond. We can only continue to appeal, at least from the residents ‘position that something is done urgently now that the raining season is over
