Motorists plying the Onitsha-Owerri Road are currently lamenting the poor state of the road.

The road links the River Niger Bridge to Ihiala, Orlu, Owerri, Aba and the South-South states.

Our correspondent gathered that the bad condition of the road causes gridlock, leading to increase in travel time and transport fares to as much as 100 per cent.

The chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, Mr Samson Ede, on Wednesday regretted that government, at all levels have neglected the road, which, according to him, is the “gate way” that connects the other South East states.

Ede said, “This road is a very important commercial road that over 70 per cent of travellers coming to the South East make use of on a daily basis. Its bad condition is giving us serious concern, especially as we enter the peak period of the festive season.

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“It is hampering free flow of movement in and out of Anambra. Traffic is always chaotic on both lanes. If government can provide some palliative measures, it will go a long way to ease the suffering especially this festive period that our people will be coming home.”

A businessman, Mr Raphael Obat, on his part, said the state of the road has forced people to abandon their cars.

He said, “It is quite unfortunate that a commercial road like this has been abandoned for so long. The costs of transporting goods are increasing daily, leading to high cost of goods and services in the market.”

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Works, Marcel Ifejiofor, said the road belongs to the Federal Government.

The Federal Controller of Works in state could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.