By Tina Amanda
An Oil and Gas Union Leader, Comrade Peter Onita, has decried the continuous deplorable state of the East-West Road, Eleme Ogoni axis, which has become life-threatening to Oil and Gas workers and residents plying the route daily.
Comrade Onita, who is Chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGANSAN) Port Harcourt Zone, in an interview with our correspondent lamented that it is worrisome that one year after the federal government claimed to have commenced the rehabilitation of the East-West Road, it is still in it’s worst state.
He disclosed that the economic value of the area is gradually dwindling as lots of companies are beginning to close down and leaving the area, due to the deplorable state of the road.
According to him, millions of naira are being lost on daily basis due to a decline in manpower, as people spend close to six to eight hours trying to navigate their way through, their various businesses and offices.
“It is precisely one year since the Youth of Ogoni shut down the East-West Road in protest of its dilapidated state of the road. Before that protest, PENGANSAN Port Harcourt Zone as a Union issued a press statement on the need for the government to complete the project.
“It is worrisome one year after Senator Akpabio then the Minister for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) gave assurance that the fixing of the road will commence, but it is so unfortunate instead of the road progressing it has gotten worse. The danger cannot be imagined, we are concerned that this promise aa made was not fulfilled.
“We want to call upon the federal government as a matter of necessity to commence the completion of the road as they promised. Lives are been lost, economic manpower are been lost, journey of ten and fifteen minutes now takes one-two hours or more which is not ideal for an economy that wants to grow”.
He said further that the bad state of East-West Road is also affecting the economic relationship between Akwa Ibom and the Rivers States as it serves as a link road, noting that several companies in the area too have been greatly affected too.
“The negative effect of that road to the State and the country can not be quantified, that road harbours companies, Onne seaport, Port Harcourt refinery, indorama, Oil and Gas Free Zone where we have a lot of servicing companies and they are major contributors to the economy.
“The sad thing now is many companies are pulling out and it is not good for our economy.”
