Gov. Wike of Rivers State

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Some youths of  Eleme in Eleme local government area of Rivers State on Friday morning blocked the Aleto-Eleme Axis of the East-West, an action, which, according to them, was to draw the attention of the failed portion and a dangerous ditch on the trunk A Federal expressway.

But the blockage of the road seriously hampered human and vehicular traffic on the road.

An Eyewitness said the youths said they are blocking the road to draw the attention of the relevant federal and state government agencies to urgently intervene to fix the dangerous ditch before the bridge near the Ukulu River in Eleme local government of Rivers State.

The youths who have so far remained peaceful according to the eyewitness, said they decided to block the only access road to over hundred multinational companies including; Indoroma Fertilizer plant, which Acting President, Yemi Osibanjo came to commission about two weeks ago, the oil and gas free zone, the two Port Harcourt refineries, the Onne Ports and others.

They said the eventual collapse of the road will not only affect the economy of the nation, it will also cut off the inhabitants of the area to rest of the state and country.

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, through the Assistant Corps Commander, Arinze Igwe, also confirmed the existence of the  the wide ditch which he also agree could hamper flow of traffic on the trunk A expressway if not urgently fixed.

He, however, said his officers and men had been drafted to area. According to Arinze Igwe, “That spot on the road has collapsed. We have deployed our men to the area. And we have put traffic code and caution signs in the affected area and we are diverting traffic to avert unforeseen circumstances and lose of lives. We will remain here until the spot is fixed.”

It would be recalled that the Petroleum Tanker Drivers in State embarked on strike in July to protest the state of the road. But due to the intervention of Governor Nyesom Wike the strike was called off.