Port Harcourt, Rivers State– Residents of Rumuekini Community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, staged a protest on Wednesday, November 27th, 2024, against the ongoing Port Harcourt Ring Road project.
Led by the community’s Youth President, Amadi Jaycey, the protesters marched to the construction site and blocked the East-West Road, causing significant traffic disruptions.
The community’s primary grievance is the design of the road, particularly the section passing through Rumuekini. They argue that the government’s decision to narrow the road from four lanes to one lane in this area poses a significant risk of accidents.
“Instead of maintaining the four lanes from UTC, they’re reducing it to one lane. This is unacceptable. Such a sharp corner will inevitably lead to accidents,” Jaycey stated during the protest.
Additionally, the community is concerned about the flooding caused by the construction. The newly constructed drainage system is channeling water directly into the community, inundating homes during rainfall.
“They’re bringing water from the East-West Road into our community without any proper drainage system. How can we survive in such conditions?” Jaycey questioned.
Despite numerous letters to the Ministry of Works, the community’s concerns have been largely ignored. The protesters are demanding that the government dualize the road from the junction to Aluu and provide tarred internal roads for the community.
“We have over 100 roads, none of which are tarred,” Jaycey emphasized.
The protesters have vowed to continue their actions until the government addresses their demands. They have threatened to block the East-West Road indefinitely if their concerns are not met.
In response, Augustine Onyewusara, the Community Liaison Officer (CLO), assured the community that their concerns had not been overlooked. He stated that the government is planning to rechannel the water to the Choba River and that the dualization project, which started from UTC to Rumuosi/Rumuekini flyover, is ongoing.
However, the community remains skeptical and is determined to fight for their rights and the safety of their community.
