By Ikenna Orioha
Residents of Owerri metropolis, have apportioned blame on government of Imo State, contractors, traffic wardens and commuters over the traffic gridlock in Owerri.
In Owerri, the capital of Imo State, traffic gridlock has become a norm because government has refused to do the needful to decongest the roads for easy movement.
Some Owerri residents, Emeka Okereke (a trader), Ijeoma Ndubuisi, (a teacher), Mazi Joachim Nweke ( businessman), Miss Uloma Ebere (a health worker) and Ikemba Chijioke (a commercial driver), who spoke to News Echo in Owerri, on Monday, regretted that the traffic gridlock got worst last year when Governor Hope Uzodimma led APC administration started the demolition of some roundabouts without expediting actions on replacing them for easy movement of both vehicular and human movement.
The residents said that they were not happy with how the state government is handling the traffic gridlock and urged the governor to intensify action as to bring the traffic gridlock to an end, adding that it slows down economic, social and educational activities in the state.
According to the residents, “the major cause of traffic gridlock in Owerri metropolis are: demolition of roundabouts at Fire Service, Wetheral roundabout, Warehouse roundabout among others with slowness in reconstructing them, the blockage of Orji Flyover, the abandonment of heavy construction equipments by contractors everywhere are part of the problems.
The “impatience of commuters and other road users and the lackadaisical attitude of traffic wardens who are only concerned with extorting money from helpless and unsuspecting motorists are all part of the reason the gridlock has continued. Government should do something urgently to address the negative situation the people have been facing since November last year by reducing traffic gridlock in the city”. They added that major areas where there are traffic gridlock in Owerri included, Fire Service, MCC Junction, Cherubim Junction, Wetheral roundabout, Douglas, Assumpta/ Control Post, Portharcourt, Amakohia, Akwakuma, Egbu, Aba road , Orji and Uratta roads.
