By Odeya Ogbetuo
The President, Ethiope Chambers of Commerce, Chief Emma Avworo has tasked the federal government to rehabilitate Warri-Benin Express way to alleviate the pains and sufferings of Nigerians using that route. Chief Emma Avworo’s call is contained in a press release signed by the President himself and made available to newsmen in Warri, Delta State.
According to him, the Federal Government should dispatch emergency repairs teams to the dilapidated highway and make the road motorable saying, this became necessary as past few months, the one-hour journey from Warri to Benin now takes five to seven hours, with lorries and trucks spending days at the worst sections of Ologbo Road.
He said the situation is not only affecting passengers but also business in the area, saying that the cost of transportation has tripled as goods and vehicles are damaged in the process of passing the roads.
The Chambers’ boss further stated that lack of adequate road networks will discourage potential investors as they cannot find outlet or roads for their finished products to transport their raw materials to where it is needed.
He said:” To be specific the sections of the road from Ibada-Elume to Sapele, Amukpe, Oghara and Mosagar Palm Wine Joint is characterized with craters, potholes and gullies on both sides of the highway. Heavy rains fall have worsened the situation as heavy trucks as well as trailers get stuck resulting into long queues “.
“A critical portion of the Warri-Benin highway at Oghara to Ologbo and Benin end of the road remains a nightmare. A journey that usually takes one hour now takes 6 to 7 hours with waste of precious time and money, obviously travelling by road between Benin and Warri has become a nightmare for travelers.” he added.
Chief Avworo said the alternative Sapele-Agbor Road is also in a sorry state especially between Eku and Agbor as the road is now totally cut off and therefore pleaded with the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently heed this appeal to do the needful in this regard.