Yuletide: Group Demands Urgent Repairs on Deplorable Highways in SouthEast

By Praise Chinecherem

A pressure group, the Southeast Youths for Development and Good Leadership (SEYDGLE) has called on Southeast Governors to engage Federal Government and its relevant agencies, to embark on urgent palliative works on failed national highways ahead of the yuletide festivities.

The group in a statement by the Executive Secretary, Ijeoma Chidi-Nwosu said the call has become necessary following severe hardship faced by travelers returning to the Southeast for the Christmas season, particularly on major national highways linking the region to other parts of Nigeria.

Reports indicate that the Lagos–Benin–Agbor bypass, which serves as a major link between Western and Eastern Nigeria, has become almost impassable, with travellers reportedly stranded for hours and even forced to sleep on the road due to the terrible condition of the highway.

Similarly, the Abuja–Lokoja Highway, especially around the Lokoja axis, has recorded prolonged traffic gridlock, and motorists heading to the Southeast have been stranded for days as a result of the poor state of the road and slow palliative repairs.

Relevant agencies had advised Abuja-based travellers to consider alternative routes or prepare mentally for extreme delays.

The group regretted that the Southeast governors are fully aware of the strong homecoming culture of Ndigbo, particularly during Christmas.

“This annual return is not just cultural; it plays a major role in boosting local trade, tourism, and the regional economy.

“Sadly, the joy of homecoming is now being replaced with pain, frustration and avoidable risks on the highways.”

The group stressed the urgent need for the governors to act collectively and proactively by engaging Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to ensure the critical access roads were properly fixed and made motorable.

“Such engagements should also involve governors of neighbouring states through which these highways pass, to allow for coordinated and effective intervention that will benefit all affected regions socially and economically,” it added.

Expressing concern over reports that Southeast governors have not met regularly as a bloc, the group noted that without consistent dialogue and collaboration, it would difficult to address shared challenges that directly affect the lives and welfare of Ndigbo.

It called on the newly established Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) to urgently step in and provide leadership by facilitating regular meetings of Southeast governors.

“The Commission must help drive a unified regional development agenda, including strong advocacy on federal infrastructure that affects the movement, safety, and economic wellbeing of the people of the Southeast.

“The suffering of Christmas returnees is avoidable. What is required is leadership, cooperation, and timely engagement with the appropriate federal authorities.

“SEYDGLE urges Southeast leaders to act now, in the collective interest of the region and its people,” the statement added.