Ahead of the Christmas celebrations and the accompanying festivities, Southeast Governors have been urged to act fast and engage the Federal Government and its relevant agencies, to embark on urgent palliative works to salvage the severe hardship suffered by their travelling populace on failed National highways connecting the region to other parts of Nigeria.
The call was contained in a statement by a pressure group, the Southeast Youths for Development and Good Leadership (SEYDGLE), made available to The News Chronicle on Monday.
The group is concerned over the 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.
In the statement, the SEYDGLE Executive Secretary, Ijeoma Chidi-Nwosu regretted that the Southeast governors are fully aware of the strong homecoming culture of Ndigbo, particularly during Christmas, saying “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 of the Southeast to act collectively and proactively by engaging the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Works, and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to ensure that these critical access roads are properly fixed and made motorable.
It said 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.
The group expressed concern over reports that Southeast governors have not met regularly as a bloc, noting that without consistent dialogue and collaboration, it becomes 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 said.
