By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has raised a fresh alarm over the deplorable condition of the Bende–Abam–Ohafia Federal Road, warning that the prolonged neglect of the vital artery has deepened hardship, economic isolation and safety risks for communities in Abia North Senatorial District.

In a statement issued on January 2, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the rights advocacy group described the state of the road as “shameful, inhumane and indefensible,” accusing authorities of criminal neglect and demanding the immediate re-award of the reconstruction contract.

“This road, which should serve as a lifeline for economic growth, healthcare access, education and food distribution, has instead become a symbol of government failure and elite indifference,” FENRAD said.

According to the organisation, the collapsed condition of the federal road has exposed residents to frequent accidents, loss of lives, destruction of vehicles, rising transport costs and worsening poverty, particularly among farmers, traders, women and students who rely on the route daily.

FENRAD argued that the continued abandonment of the road amounts to what it called “institutional violence,” noting that entire communities have been effectively cut off as mobility and commerce grind to a halt.

“The suffering of road users has been normalised for far too long,” the group stated, adding that the situation represents a denial of basic human mobility and dignity.

While acknowledging the Abia State Government’s intervention in constructing a bridge along the abandoned federal road, FENRAD said the effort only highlighted the failure of the Federal Government to act decisively.

“A bridge without a functional road leading to and from it is a painful metaphor for governance without commitment,” the statement noted, stressing that isolated interventions cannot replace the comprehensive reconstruction of the entire road.

The organisation also took aim at the area’s elected representatives, accusing them of failing to adequately represent the interests of their constituents.

FENRAD specifically criticised Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate, and Hon. Okwara, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, saying their silence and inaction amounted to a betrayal of public trust.

“It is unacceptable that year after year, this road is mentioned in budgets, promised in speeches, and abandoned in reality,” FENRAD said, pointing to repeated contract failures, lack of transparency and zero accountability.

The group called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, to urgently re-award the contract for the total reconstruction of the Bende–Abam–Ohafia Federal Road to a competent contractor, with proper funding, strict supervision and clear completion timelines.

FENRAD also urged residents, civil society groups, traditional institutions, youth organisations and the media to sustain pressure, warning that silence would only prolong the neglect.

“The people deserve roads that protect lives, support livelihoods and reflect the dignity of citizenship—not endless abandonment and cosmetic interventions,” the organisation said.