A cross-section of cattle dealers at Amansea section of the Enugu-Onitsha federal highway has made a passionate appeal to the federal government for urgently rehabilitate the road to avoid its further deterioration.
Speaking with newsmen at the failed section of the road, the South East Zonal Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, lamented that the deplorable condition of the road posed a great threat to their businesses.
He regretted that it has subjected both motorists plying the highway and cattle dealers in the area to untold hardship as they now record low sales on daily basis.
While appealing to both federal and state governments to come to their aid by rehabilitating the road,he decried the high rate at which heavy duty vehicles conveying cows to the south east breakdown on the portion of the highway and called for urgent intervention.
Commenting on the situation, the Chairman, Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State, Branch, Alhaji Bello Maigari, said low patronages occasioned by total collapse of the road might force them out business as most of their customers had resorted to other areas to source for cattles.
He lamented that they were not alone in the agony, explaining that road users plying the highway face very difficult task trying to manuover their way through the untiled section.
The Chairman called on the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite action on the road to save lives and property of commuters plying the road especially now the raining season is at its peak.
One of the Heavy Duty Vehicle Drivers, Mr Peter Choba, while narrating his experience said it was a harrowing battle moving across the bad portion as many motorists often had their vehicles stuck on the road.
