Fix Owerri-Aba, Owerri-Onitsha, Owerri-PortHarcourt Highways or forget our votes -Ohanaeze to Tinubu
The Apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared a national infrastructure emergency regarding the dire conditions of the Owerri–Aba, Onitsha–Owerri, and Owerri–Port Harcourt highways. The organization is urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction of these routes ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that failure to do so could impact electoral support from the South-East region.
According to Ohanaeze, these highways are crucial economic arteries linking the South-East to key commercial centers in the South-South. The neglect of these roads, the organization stated, has severely affected commercial activities, raised transportation costs, endangered commuters, and led to avoidable fatalities. Additionally, it has exposed road users to heightened security risks.
The organization emphasized that the federal government, led by the All Progressives Congress (APC), cannot expect political support from the Ndigbo community while critical infrastructure remains in disrepair.
In a joint press statement issued on Friday, Factional Deputy President-General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Professor Chibuikeya Achoakawa expressed their concerns. They highlighted that recent political mobilization and campaign promises cannot substitute for tangible improvements in infrastructure and governance.
While acknowledging President Tinubu’s administration’s infrastructure investments in the South-East, including a reported ₦248 billion allocation for roads in Ebonyi State, Ohanaeze underscored that the hardships faced by commuters on the three highways must not be overlooked. They are imploring the president to instruct the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to prioritize enhancements to these highways and commence rehabilitation efforts before the Christmas holiday season.
The organization also called on Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to fulfill his responsibilities. They suggested that his involvement within APC leadership and his role in the president’s political strategies should focus on safeguarding the interests of the Ndigbo, rather than allowing administrative neglect.
“Ndigbo deserve functional roads, economic opportunities, and responsible leadership,” the statement read. “The Federal Government must act now.”
