KEY POINTS
- Nearly 900 women protested against the abandoned Abakaliki-Enugu expressway construction project.
- Road hazards led to fatal accidents which resulted in the passing of a pregnant woman together with her unborn baby.
- The local community leaders gave their promise to the residents that they would take quick action to push contractors toward finishing the road work.
Women in Ebonyi declare a public demonstration to pressure construction officials about the unfinished Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.
Women from Ntsuruakpa Izhia community in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State proceeded with a massive demonstration along the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway on Tuesday to obtain action on the protracted neglected road project.
Abandoned project causing fatal accidents
The leader Mrs. Blessing Okweshi guided more than 900 women who protested about the delayed rehabilitation resulting in numerous death-causing accidents from undeclared work areas and damaged roads.
The most deadly of these disastrous incidents occurred when a female carrying a baby joined with a male victim under the same Sunday accident according to Okweshi.
Mrs. Blessing Okweshi declared that the contractors have been responsible for a dangerous situation on the road since 2024 which leads to unnecessary loss of lives among commuters.
Traditional ruler and local government intervene
Ruler of Ntsuruakpa Izhia Eze Joseph Ozogbuo Okafor directly held the constructors responsible for the construction delays and poor work quality of the project while demanding an immediate government intervention.
Ohaukwu Local Government Chairperson Prince Ikechukwu Odono stated to the demonstrators that they should peacefully continue their protest but promised to make contractors responsible for finishing the project without additional delays.
