Aggrieved youths of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State in the early hours of Monday, shut down vehicle movements on East-West road, causing a halt on business activities within the area.
Over time, the community has complained about neglect from the Federal Government as well as companies operating in the area, as you will recall that a side of the Akpajo-Aleto bridge had collapsed several weeks back due to the decay in infrastructure.
The aggrieved youths who were seen carrying placards at the scene of the protest with inscriptions: “Eleme deserves good roads”; “Indorama, give Eleme Light or leave Eleme land”; “Develop Eleme land”; “Privatize NNPC” stated that their grievances were as a result of the untold hardship and deaths of commuters, including members of the community plying the road.
A source told TPCN that the youths had moved in the early hours of the morning, blocking the Akpajo, Refinery Junction, and Trailer Park ends of the road, preventing motorists from accessing the road. Hundreds of stranded commuters were seen trekking to their various destinations.
The oil-rich community housing multi-national companies including the Indorama Petrochemicals and Fertilizer plants, NNPC refinery, Onne port, and others in recent times have complained over the incessant traffic gridlock confronting the axis.
The road which is a link to Rivers South-East Senatorial District, housing eight local government areas and also access to states like Akwa Ibom has been in a deplorable state, causing a major slowdown in businesses.
Recall that youths of the community had given the Federal Government a 14 Days notice on 17 June 2021 to start a total reconstruction of the East-West road, which went on without any response.
