For the second consecutive day, the Auchi axis of the Benin – Ekpoma – Auchi Abuja Highway was brought to a standstill by a group identified as Concerned Edo Citizens, protesting against the neglect of reconstruction work initiated since 2013.
Mobilizing residents and other road users, the group rendered the road completely impassable, erecting blockades at the prominent Jattu Junction. Canopies were set up, fires were kindled, and food was prepared, symbolizing the frustration and anger of the people.
In a display of solidarity, the truck drivers union in the Etsako West axis joined the protesters, strategically parking their vehicles to obstruct the junction, a crucial entry point for vehicles traveling the Benin- Ekpoma – Abuja highway.
The blockade stretched for miles, with trailers lining one lane from Jattu Junction to Okpella and Agbede, causing considerable inconvenience to other commuters.
This recent demonstration echoes a similar event from last year, which prompted assurances from federal ministry of works officials, conveyed through two local traditional rulers, the Otaru of Auchi and the Ogieneni of Uzairue, promising to initiate the road’s rehabilitation.
Expressing dismay, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North at the Senate, lamented the meager allocation of 200 million in the 2024 budget for the road’s reconstruction.
Residents in the vicinity, including a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, decried the impact of the protest on daily life. Navigating Auchi and its environs has become arduous, as the blockade spills over into adjacent roads and streets. With the current fuel prices, driving is unfeasible, forcing reliance on commercial vehicles for transportation.
The lecturer expressed frustration, questioning the government’s commitment to its citizens’ welfare. He emphasized the lack of security, electricity, and passable roads, labeling it an embarrassment that a project initiated in 2013 remains incomplete, highlighting the government’s failure to fulfill its obligations.
