Bad road: N1bn containerised cargos, goods destroyed in 6 months in Rivers – Giwa 

Containerised cargos and other domestic goods worth over N1 billion have so far been destroyed within six months on the Rivers-Eleme East-West road in Rivers state.

The goods fell off trucks and cargos, causing damage to the products.

Within the period, over 27 trailers or trucks have suffered similar fate as they fell with their loaded cargos as a result of deep pot holes on the Port – Harcourt Eleme junction – Onne model sea port; Oil and Gas Free Zone and other multinationals in the area.

This was revealed by the Chairman South – South/South – East Duty Trucks members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Umar Giwa, in an exclusive interview with Blueprint over the weekend in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

The chairman, who lamented the deplorable condition of the road over the years, disclosed that within the last week alone, two 20ft containers and one 40ft container fell off from the trucks while on transit to their various destinations.

Giwa described the road as a death – trap to users, which is the major federal road that connects major capital cities in the South – South and South- East of the country such as Abia, Akwa – Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta states but suffering unmitigated deplorable condition.

He also expressed concern that due to the failed road, armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminal elements attack truck drivers with their goods on transit without rescue from any quarters.

The chairman said the union in conjunction with the Eleme local  government chairman, Chief Obari Ollormate  Ollor and Eleme youth leaders,   protested early last year and blocked the Eleme axis to attract the federal government attention but there has been no response till date.