Ebonyi women stage protest over neglected road, rising death toll

Judith Echefu, Abakaliki

Over 1,000 women from Ntsuruakpa Izhia community in Ebonyi State’s Ohaukwatu Local Government Area took to the streets on Tuesday, protesting the alleged abandonment of the critical Abakalakiri-Enugu expressway rehabilitation project.

The demonstration highlights the community’s growing frustration with the neglect of the vital road, which has resulted in increased accidents and loss of lives.

The women blocked the dualized expressway at the Flyover Ezzamgbo junction early in the morning, expressing outrage over the slow pace of the rehabilitation, which has been ongoing since last year.

The leader of the women, Mrs. Blessing Okweshi, lamented that the stalled project has caused numerous accidents, claiming the lives of community residents and road users.

According to her, “The worst accident happened last Sunday. A pregnant mother, Chika Unah, along with her unborn baby and a man, died instantly after being hit by a lorry. The driver fled without reporting to the police.”

She described the deplorable state of the road, littered with potholes and construction debris, without proper signage since 2024.

“Our people are tired of dying like fowls because of the slow pace of this project. That’s why we are here, staging this peaceful protest to demand action,” she said.

The traditional ruler of the Ntsuruakpa Izhia community, HRH Eze Joseph Okafor, blamed the contractor for the poor handling of the project and called for immediate intervention by the state and federal governments to prevent further accidents.

Ohaukwu Council boss, Prince Ikechukwu Odono, who arrived at the protest scene, pleaded with the women to return to their homes, assuring them that the contractor would be compelled to complete the project without further delays.

The women called for swift action to ensure the road becomes safe for all users and to prevent further loss of lives.