…Accuse Government of Negligence as Road Claims Pregnant Woman, Others

By Jeff Agbodo

ABAKALIKI — Women from the Ntsuruakpa Izhia community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State staged a massive protest over the alleged abandonment of the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway rehabilitation project.

The women, numbering over 900, 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.

Tragic Accidents and Loss of Lives

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.

“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 said.

Okweshi 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 Ntsuruakpa Izhia community, HRH Eze Joseph Ozogbuo 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 Local Government Chairman, 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 have called for swift action to ensure the road becomes safe for all users and to prevent further loss of lives.