Enugu-Makurdi road users decry deplorable conditions, insecurity

Travelers and residents along the 9th Mile–Obollo-Afor–Makurdi Federal Highway and the adjacent Obollo-Afor–Eha-Amufu–Nkalagu road are expressing deep frustration over the deteriorating state of these crucial routes. They report that the abrupt departure of contractors has left major sections of the road virtually impassable, exacerbating existing problems and introducing new dangers.

“

I can say from my experience that the road has been deserted because the ongoing construction by the Federal Government has not helped matters. It has in fact worsened the bad or ugly nature of what we had before now. The road has become so lonely and almost impassable.

Motorists describe the situation as "double jeopardy," facing both severe mechanical damage to their vehicles and heightened security risks. A commercial driver, Chisom Njoku, stated that the ongoing dualization project, rather than providing relief, has worsened the already terrible condition of the road. "The road has become so lonely and almost impassable," Njoku said. "A lot of booby traps, kidnappers are now having a field day with the few drivers and trucks plying the road."

Beyond the immediate threats of insecurity and vehicle damage, the incomplete roadworks have created a significant environmental hazard. Residents living along the corridor complain of heavy dust plumes generated by unpaved earthworks, especially when heavy trucks pass. Beatrice Ugwu, a petty trader whose shop is located near Ogede Junction, described how thick dust constantly coats her merchandise, forcing her to clean her shop items multiple times daily. "My children and I have been battling persistent coughs and catarrh for months. The dust pollution is suffocating us," she added.

“

Living along this road has become a health hazard. Ever since the contractors excavated the topsoil and left without laying asphalt, thick clouds of dust cover everywhere whenever heavy trucks pass. My merchandise is constantly coated in red dust, and I have to wash my shop items several times daily just to sell anything.

The economic toll is also substantial. Emmanuel Odo, a resident of the Eha-Amufu area, highlighted the difficulties faced by farmers in transporting their produce to markets. "Perishable crops rot on the way because drivers charge double to risk their vehicles on these gullies," Odo lamented. The government's intervention, which involved excavating earthworks, has, in effect, cut off access without providing a viable alternative, leaving communities struggling with both accessibility and economic hardship.

“

Farmers in our communities can no longer transport their agricultural produce to markets in Obollo-Afor or neighbouring states efficiently. Perishable crops rot on the way because drivers charge double to risk their vehicles on these gullies.