Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The residents of Enugu city have voiced their frustrations over bad roads network in the metropolis.
A cross section of the residents barred their minds on the matter on Friday in Enugu.
This followed perennial traffic hold-ups and congestion on the existing roads in parts of the city.
The residents attributed perennial vehicular hold-up in parts of the metropolis to lack of maintenance of existing roads and alternative routes.
Speaking, a resident of Achara Layout area, Mrs Elizabeth Nwosu, said it was unfortunate that the outgoing administration did not bother to maintain the existing roads in the area.
“Look at all the roads constructed by the former administration are washing away with potholes everywhere.
“During the rainy season most of the roads are not passable, it’s that bad.
“I just pray that the incoming administration will look into it, even if it is to fill the potholes,” she said.
Engr. Vincent Acholonu, a resident of Mount in Awkunanaw area, said people spend hours on hold-up because the administration failed to maintain alternative routes.
“Vehicular hold-up at Mayor and Amechi junction has become very worrisome for some of us and even all motorists plying through Agbani road.
“Everyday people spend minutes and sometimes hours on hold-up at that particular Amaechi junction, even when you are rushing to keep crucial appointments.
“It’s very frustrating and not good at all, especially for serious and busy people like me. I don’t know of some others,” Acholonu said.
According to him, the situation was unnecessary because the previous administration constructed alternative roads to open up the areas for easy access.
“The previous administration opened alternative routes to decongest that particular junction which made people to start moving into these Awkunanaw as the city is expanding.
“The pressure on those alternative roads caused them to degenerate and today you can’t ply those routes any more because of its worse condition.
“Unfortunately, the outgoing administration is not interested in roads maintenance and this is what we are witnessing,” he said.
In the same vein, Mr Pius Ugwu, a resident of Abakpa area, the city’s suburb, described some of the roads in the area as death traps.
“To live in Abakpa now is very hectic, especially if you are working in the city centre; it is hellish.
“Whether you come in or go out through Trans Ekulu or 82 Division it is the same. You spend man-hours due to traffic hold-up.
This administration did not help us at all; it’s too bad,” Ugwu said.
He pleaded with the next administration to take roads maintenance and rehabilitation very seriously, to accommodate its expansion.
