Motorists and shop owners around Timber Market are lamenting over the bad state of the Naze-Egbu Ring Road in the Owerri-North Local Government Area of Imo State. They also complained of a lull in economic and business activities in the area due to the deplorable state of the road. Reporters from the area on Thursday observed that the worst hit is a section leading to the popular Timber Market. The section of the road is riddled with deep potholes that make driving a harrowing experience for motorists.
A truck driver, Mr Ephraim Ukachukwu, complained that the state government had abandoned the road, adding that in the next couple of months, the rainy season would set in and make it impassable.
While urging Governor Hope Uzodinma to consider their plight and fix the road urgently, he said the deplorable state of the road has had a negative impact on economic activities around the area, as many businesses have packed up.
Another motorist, Alex Ibe, told our correspondent that petty traders who have shops along the road have given up on their businesses, just as residents of the area have relocated to other places.
A business owner, Chief Emmanuel Eneremadu, made a compassionate appeal to the governor to fix the road.
He recounted the losses many companies have incurred since last year over the inability of their partners to bring in goods as a result of the deplorable condition of the road. Chief Maduako Theodore also expressed sadness over the bad state of the road.
