Hundreds of women from the Ntsuruakpa Izhia community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State staged a protest on Tuesday over the alleged abandonment of the Abakaliki-Enugu highway rehabilitation project, which they claim has caused several deadly accidents.
The women, who blocked the Senator Sam Egwu Flyover at Ezzamgbo Junction in the early hours of the day, expressed frustration at the slow pace of the project, which has been under rehabilitation since 2024. They blamed the poor state of the road for the frequent accidents that have claimed many lives.
Mrs. Blessing Okweshi, leader of the protest, recounted a recent tragedy that occurred last Sunday. “A pregnant woman, Chika Unah, her unborn baby, and a man died on the spot after a lorry accident on this abandoned road,” she said. “The lorry driver fled the scene and has not reported to any police station.”
According to Okweshi, numerous lives have been lost along the highway due to potholes and heaps of construction materials left on the road without proper signs to warn drivers. “We are tired of watching our people die because of the slow execution of this project. This protest is to call attention to the problem,” she added.
Other protesters, including Hellen Nweonwe and Obiageri Owoh, described the road as a “death trap” and vowed to continue their protest if no action is taken by the authorities.
Reacting to the situation, the traditional ruler of the Ntsuruakpa Izhia community, HRH Eze Joseph Ozogbuo Okafor, called on the state and federal governments to intervene immediately. He urged the contractor handling the project to act quickly to prevent further loss of lives. “Everyone is mourning because of the tragic incidents on this road,” he said.
Former Coordinator of Ohaukwu Development Centre, Chief Okweshi Obiora, and community stakeholder, Chief Obasi James, also condemned the delay in completing the project. They urged the contractor to expedite the work to prevent further protests.
Prince Ikechukwu Odono, Executive Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area, appealed to the protesters to remain calm, assuring them that the contractor would be compelled to speed up the project.
Similarly, the State Commissioner for Capital Territory and Urban Development, Chief Sunday Inyima, advised the women to embrace peace and promised that the relevant authorities would address their demands without delay.
