Lagos-Asaba Expressway Has Become Death Trap – Delta Monarchs Demand Action From Government

Lagos-Asaba Expressway Has Become Death Trap – Delta Monarchs Demand Action From Government

The terrible condition of the Lagos-Asaba expressway has unsettled traditional rulers in Delta State, as they on Monday called on federal government to take urgent steps to repair the road they described as death trap.

Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, in a statement issued to journalists in Asaba and signed by its chairman, Obi Emmanuel Efezeimo, who is also the Obi of Owa Kingdom, called on all men of goodwill to urgently intervene by fixing the deplorable road, particularly the bad potion between Ubulu Okiti and Otulu junction to avert avoidable deaths.

While describing the condition of the road as pathetic and unfortunate, the royal fathers stated that urgent steps should be taken to fix the failed portions to avert unpleasant consequences.

The monarchs reasoned that the Lagos-Asaba expressway is the gateway to the Eastern part of the country, adding that the road often witness heavy traffic during the Yuletide, thereby underscoring the need for government to urgently take action for its repairs before it is too late.

They stressed the need for the deployment of officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to divert motorists from the bad potion of the road, and suggested that a combined team of security agencies should be positioned strategically to ward off criminals from the spot.

The traditional rulers pointed out that the road might split into two if nothing was done to address the situation which they said had claimed some lives in recent times.

Part of the statement reads: “The bad road is caused by a deep gully that measures about twenty four feet which had eaten into the sloppy road and no fewer than five vehicles have fallen into the gully. We want the federal government to urgently do the needful and repair the road and the state emergency road maintenance to do some thing about the road.”

Deplorable portions of the road, according to the monarchs, include: the Asaba-Ogwashi Uku road, Ughelli-Warri road, the Ughelli-Patani-Yenogoa road, the Sapele-Warri road and the Agbor Abavo-Urghonigbe Abraka road, lamenting that unsuspecting motorists plying these roads are usually either killed or sustain injuries through fatal accidents.

But officials of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, who spoke to journalists under the condition of anonymity, said funds have not been made available for work to commence on the deplorable roads, assuring that as soon as funds are released, work will start in earnest for the repair of the roads.