By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
A fresh warning has emerged from the youths of Ogoni Land over the continued neglect of the dilapidated East-West Road, Akpajo-Eleme axis, by the federal government of Nigeria.
The angry Ogoni youths warned of another protest that will shut down economic activities along the axis if the newly sworn in government of President Bola Tinubu fails to repair the road as soon as possible.
The Ogoni youths spoke under the auspices of their umbrella body, Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), on Thursday.
Expressing dismay over the abandoned East West road, the president-general of OYF, Legborsi Sunday Yamaabana, told newsmen that the need to rehabilitate the road had become very urgent.
He wondered why the federal government has continued to neglect the road despite its economic importance to the nation.
He lamented that irrespective of huge amounts of money budgeted for construction of the road on several occasions, it has remained in bad shape, turning into a death trap for motorists and commuters on daily basis.
The youths appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently commence work on the road “to avert another protest that will shut down economic activities in the area.”
They said although as law-abiding citizens, they would continue to adopt diplomacy to press home their demands, continued neglect of the road by successive governments would no longer be tolerated.
The East-West Road Akpajo-Eleme axis is the only access route to some of Nigeria’s highest revenue-generating multi-national companies.
Such money-spinning ventures include: Eleme Petrochemicals, Indorama, Port Harcourt Refinery, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, among others.
