The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), has announced its intention to take drastic action against the Federal Government and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) due to the worsening state of the East-West road.
In a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, Imeabe Saviour Oscar, MOSOP expressed its frustration: “It is worrisome that despite the huge revenue accruing from within the Ogoni ethnic nationality, especially the Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone which houses hundreds of companies, the Eleme Petrochemical Company, Eleme Refinery, and other federal, state, and private assets, the entire stretch of the road has remained in a sorry state and become a nightmare to travelers.
“The road is now a death trap to the Ogoni people.”
MOSOP, under the leadership of Prof. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, has given both the government and the construction firm handling the Eleme section of the road in Rivers State a 14-day ultimatum to resume work or risk the complete shutdown of the road.
The group highlighted recent tragedies that have occurred on the neglected road, recalling a fatal fire accident that destroyed over 100 vehicles and claimed many lives.
Daily deaths and accidents on the road continue to be a grave concern.
They also expressed disappointment over the government’s lack of response to the deteriorating situation, stating: “The government’s silence and inaction are appalling because we had expected that President Bola Tinubu, at this point, would have prioritized the completion of the road, but it seems that’s the opposite.”
As the voice of the Ogoni people, MOSOP made it clear that the long-standing neglect of the road, which serves as a critical link between Rivers and other southern states, can no longer be tolerated.
Should the government and RCC fail to act within the stipulated time, MOSOP has threatened to completely shut down the road, effectively crippling economic activities in the region from September 3rd.
“We are giving the Federal Government a 14-day grace period, beginning from today, to fine-tune whatever arrangements it has with RCC and return to the site as Ogoni people are no longer interested in the politics going on with the company and the Federal Ministry of Works,” Oscar stated.
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