By: Felix Ikpotor
Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State Obarilomate Ollor has given the federal government till February ending to commence work on the Eleme section of the East West Road or face complete shutdown of activities on the federal highway.
Ollor who expressed disappointment over the poor handling of the road by the government, gave the ultimatum at a meeting with critical stakeholders of the transportation sector in the council.
He frowned at government’s negligence and insensitivity to the sufferings of road users in the area which he said has heightened the plight of those working and living in the council rea.
“I have always maintained that the Federal Government is irresponsible and not sensitive to the plight of our people. Judging by recent happenings with regards to the negligence of government to the sufferings of road users in this part of the world, my stance is vindicated. Again, like I said before the youths vacated the road last August, the protest was only suspended and not ended, therefore let it be noted today that we are giving the Federal Government from today January 12, 2022 to February 28, 2022 to commence full construction work on the road as captured in the national budget or they will suffer a complete shutdown of the road.
“We cannot watch our people suffer continuously as a result of the insincerity and irresponsibility of the Federal Government and its agencies. It is very clear that as we get close to the electioneering period, the Federal Government would shift attention from infrastructural development and focus on campaigns, therefore they have to fix the road as they promised before election or nobody will have access to that road”, Ollor insisted.
Ollor used the medium to brief the stakeholders on the modalities he has put in place including the setting up of a task force to enforce the Governor Nyesom Wike’s directive ordering the removal of all trucks and articulate vehicles parked along major roads and streets for more than 48hours or be impounded.
He lamented that the situation in Eleme is worst as heavy duty users abuse their privileges of using the roads thus making life difficult for other road users.
“The road is currently in its most deplorable state and the inability to use the road with wisdom will keep us trapped for hours in our attempt to navigate the City of Port Harcourt and other parts of the state.
On security, the council chairman said that Eleme is no longer a safe haven for criminals and efforts are in top gear to ensure that the successes so far achieved on this front is sustained.
