Drivers lament the traffic jams on the Asaba-Onitsha road and call for repairs to the highway

The appalling state of the always congested Asaba-Onitsha Expressway has been causing dismay among drivers, particularly along the Asaba axis.

Due to the failing sections of the road, there has been traffic congestion on the highway for more than a month, particularly at the Asaba axis.

During South-South PUNCH’s visit to the region on Tuesday, the team noticed a daily stretch of traffic jams that impede travelers from reaching their destination ahead of schedule.

Due to traffic congestion, certain sections of the road have deteriorated to the point where drivers are stuck in traffic for hours at a time.

Among the areas that failed include the Summit area, Okwe General Hospital near Abraka intersection, Bonsac by Ezenei junction, and others.

The majority of drivers, particularly those heading to Onitsha from Abuja, Lagos, and Benin, were stuck when attempting to make their way through the town, but because of the malfunctioning sections, they were still stuck before the Asaba toll gate.

Agu, a commercial driver, told our correspondent about his struggle. He said that he was stuck in traffic for more than five hours until he managed to find his way out of the problematic areas of the route.

He said, “This traffic gridlock started as earlier as 6am till night every day, in most cases, you come out the next morning, the traffic is still there. Some will spend two day before getting to Onitsha.”

Agu appealed to relevant government authorities to rehabilitate the failed portions of the road to “save travellers along this corridor from undue hardship.”

When contacted, the Federal Controller of Works, Delta State, Mr Ogar, said that the entire stretch of the road is under contract.

He said, “We are aware of the plight of the motorists, the entire stretch of that road is on contract, but the contractor started work at the boundary between Delta and Edo states.

“I have drawn the contractor’s attention to the portions, very soon, we will start fixing the failed spots in Asaba, especially, the Summit area, Ezenei and the Abraka area.

“As I speak to you now, I’m in Abakiliki for National Council of Works meeting; when I come back I will mount pressure on the contractor to move to the failed areas.”