A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, described the project as a vital step towards restoring economic activities in communities that rely on the road, particularly in the quarry and cassava processing hubs of Akoko Edo.
The intervention comes on the heels of a protest by hundreds of youths from the affected communities, who blocked the road on Wednesday in a demonstration against the deteriorating road conditions. The protesters decried the spike inkidnapping and violent crimes, which they said had worsened due to the poor state of the road. They also criticized political officeholders from the area for neglecting the needs of their constituents.
The protest brought traffic to a standstill for hours, with travelers and heavy-duty vehicles stranded along the route.
The Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo Road is a critical transport corridor for vehicles moving between Lagos, Abuja, and other major regions.
Meanwhile, the contractor in charge of the rehabilitation project, Mr. Bajwa Hammed, has assured that all failed sections will be fixed to the highest standards.
“There are many sections of this road that have failed and must be urgently addressed for the safety of both people and vehicles. I understand the standards the governor expects, and we will deliver accordingly,” Hammed promised.
