Traders, Drivers Hail St John’s Road Rehabilitation, Decry Lack of Alternative Route

Commercial drivers and business owners operating around the St. John’s axis of Iwofe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area have expressed relief and excitement over the ongoing rehabilitation of the road linking Egbelu, Ogbogoro, and Uzuoba communities.

The road, which had long fallen into disrepair, was previously a major source of concern for residents, motorists, and traders, who lamented its deplorable condition and the negative impact on daily activities.

Speaking to our correspondent, some business owners noted that the poor state of the road had significantly reduced customer turnout, as many found it difficult to access shops and markets in the area.

“Patronage dropped because people could not come in easily. The bad road discouraged customers,” one shop owner said, expressing hope that the situation would improve upon completion of the project.

Similarly, commercial drivers described the former condition of the road as a nightmare, revealing that frequent vehicle breakdowns had become a daily occurrence.

“Our vehicles were always getting damaged because of the bad road. We spent a lot on repairs,” a driver stated, while commending the government for what he termed a timely intervention.

Despite the commendation, the drivers raised concerns over the absence of a designated alternative route during the construction period. They alleged that the lack of proper traffic arrangements has subjected them to undue stress and prolonged travel times.

They have therefore called on the project contractor to expedite work and provide temporary access routes to ease movement and ensure a smoother flow of traffic within the axis.

“We are pleading with them to be fast with the work so that our vehicles won’t breakdown anymore.

They failed to create an alternative route, my two tyres burst yesterday, they forced me to enter where I was not supposed to enter and I lost over 60 thousand Naira yesterday.

If they have a place to park their trucks, there would be enough space for us to drive through”

They however remain optimistic that, once completed, the rehabilitated road will boost economic activities, improve transportation, and enhance overall living conditions in the affected communities.

As at the moment of filing this report, all efforts to reach the project contractors were unsuccessful.