TD ABUJA, FCT — The Igbo Community Association (ICA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called on the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate major federal highways connecting the South-East with other parts of Nigeria ahead of the 2026 Yuletide travel season.
The association the remarks in a statement signed by its President General, Engr. (Nze) Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, and Secretary General, Mazi Chinwoke Emmanuel Onah.
It described the condition of several major routes into the South-East as “deplorable”.
It warned that deteriorating roads are creating severe hardship and exposing travellers to avoidable risks.
According to the ICA, critical arterial routes linking the South-East with the South-West, North-Central and South-South have deteriorated over successive administrations.
They result in gridlock, vehicle damage, accidents, loss of lives and increased security concerns.
Benin-Agbor-Asaba Corridor
The association identified the Benin-Agbor-Asaba corridor as a particularly troubling example.
The route serves as a major gateway between the South-West and South-East and carries significant volumes of commercial and passenger traffic.
The ICA noted that public concerns over the condition of the road eventually prompted Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi.
Umahi inspected the affected sections and apologised to stranded motorists over the hardship caused by the failed portions.
While acknowledging the minister’s intervention, the association said the episode exposed a broader infrastructure problem.
It argued that major transportation corridors serving the South-East are often allowed to deteriorate to critical levels before receiving urgent government attention.
Calls for Emergency Rehabilitation
With the Yuletide period approaching, the ICA urged the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise the immediate rehabilitation of major federal highways leading into the South-East.
The association said increased movement of Nigerians during the Christmas and New Year period would place additional pressure on already deteriorated roads.
It warned that failure to address the situation could result in further traffic congestion, road crashes, vehicle breakdowns and security vulnerabilities for travellers.
“Restoring these roads is essential not only to prevent avoidable road casualties but also to mitigate security vulnerabilities facing travelers,” the association said.
‘South-Easterners Are Equal Stakeholders’
The ICA also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure greater equity in the distribution of national infrastructure projects.
The association stressed that South-Easterners are “equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project” and should have access to safe, functional and reliable federal road networks like citizens in other parts of the country.
The group said its intervention was not merely about regional interests but about ensuring that critical transportation infrastructure serving millions of Nigerians is maintained.
It reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for infrastructure development while protecting what it described as the dignity and interests of Igbo-speaking residents in the FCT.
