By Tina Amanda
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the Eleme section of the East-West Road, following recurring accidents and loss of lives on the vital economic route.
Chinedu Ukadike, the National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, made the call in response to the recent tragic incident where expatriate Gibson Reuben lost his life after his vehicle plunged into the river near the Aleto Bridge in Eleme.
Ukadike expressed deep dissatisfaction with the unfulfilled promises regarding the completion of the road, including those made by former Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
He urged swift action to repair the road before the rainy season begins, emphasizing its critical role now that the Port Harcourt Refinery is operational.
“The Eleme East-West Road is a federal road of immense economic importance. It hosts the nation’s key industrial assets, including petrochemical companies, refineries, the Onne Free Zone, and the Port Authority. It also serves as a critical link between Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.
“The road should be completed before the rainy season set in. Now that the Port Harcourt refinery has started functioning.”
He recalled Akpabio’s pledge during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to complete the road but lamented the lack of progress.
“Despite knowing the hazardous nature of transporting petroleum products along this route, the promises remain unfulfilled. IPMAN continues to suffer significant losses. I urge President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the road. Its completion will ensure faster distribution of petroleum products and safeguard lives,” Ukadike added.
Ukadike also called on corporate stakeholders such as Indorama and other industrial companies operating in the area to step in under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) obligations to temporarily make the road motorable while awaiting government intervention.
“The deteriorating state of the road adversely affects the local and national economies. If left unaddressed, it could lead to unemployment as companies shut down or relocate, reducing income and revenue for the two local government areas in the vicinity,” he warned.
He further sympathized with the family of the deceased, praying for divine protection for the people of the state amidst the challenges of Nigeria’s struggling economy.
Ukadike concluded by reiterating the urgency of the road’s rehabilitation, emphasizing its strategic importance to the nation’s economic stability and growth.
