THE DETERIORATING STATE OF OBOHIA ROAD IN ABA, ABIA STATE AND GOVERNMENT INSENSITIVITY

Aba is the commercial nerve centre of the Southeast Nigeria. Obohia road situated in Aba is about 20km distance from Aba to Port Harcourt in Rivers State. It is one of the earliest major roads that links to Rivers State asides the Enugu Port Harcourt highway. This road stretches from Asa Road along Port Harcourt road to Akwete and then, Obehie down to Rivers State.

Obohia road is said to be a federal road and Urata. What does it mean for a road to fall into Federal? Firstly, Federal roads are roads that links to another State or States. It means the maintenance and construction of such road is strictly the reserve of the Federal Government and not the State Government.

Unfortunately, this is not the case with Obohia road. The Federal Government has over 30 years ago abandoned the road and at a certain point, the road has shut down completely and no longer motorable. Obohia road has suffered horrific deterioration and the people resident in this area, have suffered untold hardship. Businesses have shut down and health hazards as a result of stagnant drainages and heaps of refuse at the centre of the roads.

The horrific state of the roads makes life very difficult especially in transportation. People cannot move their goods from one point to another. Many times, residents have to go through bushes and people’s farmlands before assessing their destinations. There are occasions where people have been robbed, goods damaged, and others injured.

As a federal road, one expects that it should be maintained to a certain extent. But frankly speaking, this road has not seen any Government presence in the past 30 years or more. Nkwo Ngwa market, located along Obohia road, is one of the biggest markets in ABA but due to the condition of the road, the market is gradually becoming a ghost of itself.

The Ohazu Customary Court, Church of Christ and finally St Peters Anglican church opposite Umuagbai are all totally cut off due to bad road. Politicians only visit Obohia road during the electioneering seasons to canvass for votes and after they get into office, they never return again.

This is the sad story of Obohia road. The people have petitioned over a hundred times to no avail. The Government has become insensitive to their plight. It is obvious that only a BIAFRA State, will fix Obohia road and bring life back to the residents of Obohia road.

#SupportBiafra

#SupportIPOB

Written by:

Chiemerie Michael

For: Abia State Media

Edited by:

Ngozichukwu Ada-Dav

For: Abia State Media

Published by:

Chibuike John Nebeokike

For: Abia State Media