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From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Igbo Community Association (ICA) FCT has drawn the attention of the Federal Government to the critical and deplorable state of federal road networks connecting the South-East geopolitical zone to the rest of the country.
This SOS, ICA stated, became necessary as the Minister of Works, David Umahi, from the region, has repeatedly praised the administration’s work in the region.
The Association highlighted that for successive administrations, key arterial routes linking the South-East to the South-West, North-Central, and South-South regions have deteriorated into death traps. It noted that motorists and commuters continue to endure severe gridlock, destruction of vehicles, loss of lives, and heightened security risks.
In a press statement jointly signed by Nze Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, an engineer and President General, Igbo Community Association (ICA) FCT and the Secretary General, Mazi Chinwoke Emmanuel Onah, the group stated that a striking case in point is the Benin-Agbor-Asaba corridor, a vital arterial gateway linking the South-West and South-East.
The statement read in part: “Despite initial public pushback and political friction when concerns were raised over this route, recent events and public outcry eventually led the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to inspect the corridor and offer an apology to stranded motorists for the severe hardship caused by the failed sections. While we acknowledge the Minister’s recent intervention, this situation underscores a broader, systemic issue: critical transit routes leading into the South-East are routinely neglected until they reach catastrophic levels.
“As the Yuletide season approaches, a period characterized by high-volume travel across the country, it is imperative that the Federal Ministry of Works prioritizes immediate rehabilitation of these federal corridors. Restoring these roads is essential not only to prevent avoidable road casualties but also to mitigate security vulnerabilities facing travelers.
“The Igbo Community Association (ICA) FCT, speaking on behalf of Igbo residents in the Federal Capital Territory, calls on the Federal Government to ensure fairness and equity in the allocation of national infrastructure resources. South-Easterners are equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project and deserve safe, accessible, and functional federal road networks.”
The ICA said it remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the dignity of the Igbo-speaking people while advocating for infrastructure development that serves all Nigerians.
