Few hours after the Students of Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture,Umudike (MOUAU),stormed the streets of Umuahia, protesting against the deplorable state of the Umuahia- Ikot Ekpene federal road, that has become a death trap, the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the immediate fixing of the failed portions of the road.
The Governor made this known to the public through the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, directing PUMECO Construction Company to move in on Wednesday October 6 2021, and fix all the failed portion of the Umuahia- Ikot Ekpene Road.
The State Commissioner for Information, during a live Radio program in Umuahia, stated Government’s readiness to fix the failed portions of the road, so as to ease road users, particularly the students of the two tertiary institutions in the area,the challenges they encounter daily on the road.
The Commissioner further appealed to the protesting students of Michael Okpara University, Umudike, to go home, as the Abia State Government has resolved to move into the failed portions of the Federal Road.
Recall that Students of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, staged a protest few hours ago, barricading all the routes that lead to the Umuahia- Ikot Ekpene road, refusing road users access to the road,until the federal and state governments swing into action, to fix the road.
According to student who spoke in anonymity, lamented about some of the challenges students go through before they get to school.
He said the students are subjected to high transportation fares before they can to school and most of the times, they are stocked on the road for hours due to heavy traffic on the road.
The student disclosed that yesterday, a trailer killed four students of the school due to the bad state of the road, adding that students of the University always get crushed by vehicles on the road,due to maybe brake failure or potholes.
He, however,called on the government to respond urgently,as they are ready to shut down the road for days if nothing is done.