Residents of the Abraka community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State have lamented over the bad roads in their community.
I am one of those residents. I am just a student, but I see what this bad road is doing to us every day. I believe if the government can fix this road, it will bring big relief to the community.
Every day I watch drivers suffer. The road is full of big holes. Drivers call them potholes. When cars enter these holes, tyres burst. Engine spoils. Parts of the car break. I have seen many drivers repair their cars almost every day because of this road. The money they should use to feed their children is now going to mechanic.
Because the road is bad, drivers don’t want to use it. They look for other routes. But those routes are longer. Long route means the car will use more fuel and waste more time. And the passenger will pay for it. That is why transport fare that used to be ₦200 is now ₦500. For market women, it is profit that is gone. Everybody is feeling the pain.
Students are suffering most. School is already hard. Now transport is hard too. Some of my coursemates walk long distance under hot sun just to save money. Some come late to class because no driver wants to enter the bad part of the road. If a driver agrees to go, he will collect double the normal amount.
This road is not just costing us money. It is also dangerous. Drivers cannot always see the holes, especially at night or when it rains. Cars skid and fall inside. People inside get hurt. Some break their hands. Some hit their head. If help does not come fast, a small accident can become death. I keep asking myself how many people must die before government will fix this road?
Rain makes everything worse. When it rains, the holes fill with water. You cannot see them again. Cars and keke enter inside and get stuck in mud. Some parts of the road have now turned to swamp. On rainy days, drivers abandon the road completely. People are stranded all because of one bad road.
This bad road is also killing business in Abraka. Abraka is a school town. Students, lecturers, and visitors come here every day. But who wants to bring business to a place with bad road? Drivers don’t want to come. Customers don’t want to travel. Market women sell less because people are afraid to come. Even government is losing money because business is slow. One bad road can destroy the money of a whole town.
I ask myself every day what will make government act? Do they want us to block the road and protest first? Do they want someone to die and video go viral before they listen? Good leaders don’t wait for people to die before they work. I am only asking for a road that cars can pass without breaking down. A road that will not make students trek under the sun. A road that will let sick people reach hospital on time. A road that shows that Abraka people also matter.
Government, please act fast before this road spoils more cars. Before it spoils more businesses. Before it takes more lives. To the leaders of Ethiope East and Delta State, we are begging you. Fix our road , Every day you wait, someone loses money. Someone misses school. Someone risks death.
This road is our pain. Please, make it our joy.
A girl was threatened with a knife by a bike man. At first he did not remember the area, but as they were going he remembered that the particular place the road was bad. So when they got to their destination he asked for extra money. When the girl refused, he brought out a knife and threatened her. She was forced to give him the money. After the girl gave him the money, he said, “You were lucky I did not collect your phone.”
. Emuobohwo is a 200-level student of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Delta State University, Abraka.
