The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has raised alarm over the worsening state of federal highways across the country, warning that the bad road network has become a breeding ground for kidnappers and armed robbers.
Speaking with Frontline Reporters, the NURTW Chairman, Mr. Francis Arhiyor, lamented that the deplorable condition of major highways was directly fueling insecurity, particularly along key transit corridors.
“The truth is that if the roads are good, the cases of armed robbery and kidnapping will be drastically reduced,” Arhiyor said. “These hoodlums take undue advantage of bad spots on highways to strike and perpetrate their heinous crimes.”
Arhiyor made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate failed portions of the East–West highway, describing it as a death trap for motorists and travelers across the Niger Delta region.
He, however, commended the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for his timely intervention through the reconstruction of the Warri–Sapele–Benin Road, a critical route long abandoned to decay.
“If the roads are good and a driver is on motion, nobody can jump in front of your vehicle to attack,” the NURTW Chairman maintained. “Governor Oborevwori’s intervention is a welcome development that brings hope and relief to our members and commuters alike.”
Arhiyor explained that transport workers had endured years of hardship navigating the failed sections of the route, with many vehicles damaged beyond repair due to poor road conditions.
“Our members have been having harrowing experiences. Vehicles keep breaking down irretrievably, and we spend heavily on maintenance every day. The reconstruction of the Warri–Sapele–Benin Road will be a huge relief,” he said.
While praising the Delta State Government, Arhiyor renewed his appeal to the Federal Government to prioritize the reconstruction of key national arteries, especially the Benin By-Pass en route Lagos, the Benin–Akwa Ibom stretch, and the Warri–Port Harcourt section of the East–West highway, which he described as “terribly bad.”
“We are strongly appealing to the Federal Government to come to our aid and fix these roads without further delay,” he urged.
It will be recalled that during the flag-off of the Warri–Sapele–Benin Road reconstruction, Governor Oborevwori stressed that the project underscored the value of intergovernmental collaboration, noting that development thrives when governments work together in the people’s interest.
“Although this is a federal route, the users are Deltans and Nigerians, and their safety and comfort are what matter most to us,” the Governor said. “This corridor remains a critical national infrastructure connecting major cities across the South-South and beyond.”
With the growing calls from the NURTW and commuters, pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to act swiftly and address Nigeria’s deteriorating road infrastructure — before more lives are lost to crime and neglect.
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2025-10-21