By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ohanaeze Youth council (OYC) has decried the deplorable state of Naze – Nekede – lhiagwa – Obinze road, describing it as a source of hardship and insecurity.

The sorry road is part of the major corridor in Owerri West LGA, which links the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and the Federal Polytechnic Nekede.

The National President of (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, made the call on Monday in Owerri during a press conference.

The apex Igbo Youth body urged the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to take urgent responsibility to fix the road.

“Although it is a state road, it connects two major federal institutions, Federal University of Technology (FUTO) and Federal Polytechnic Nekede. The Federal Ministry of Works under Sen. David Nweze Umahi should intervene, prove capacity to end the suffering of students,” Igboayaka stated.

He noted that the road has suffered years of neglect, abandonment, and heavy dilapidation, resulting in vehicle damage, long travel times, and untold hardship for students, staff, and residents.

According to the organisation, alleging that previous reconstruction efforts by the Imo State Government from Naze – Nekede axis were abandoned.

The pan Igbo Youth body further raised concerns over rising insecurity, saying the bad road has become a den for kidnapping, car snatching, and motorcycle theft.

He called for collaborative action by both the federal and state governments, and recommended drainage expansion toward Ihiagwa Market and bridge construction to ease movement and serve as a bypass.

"Commuters constantly lament the delays and poor terrain. We need a fast and permanent completion of this road before it becomes a death trap,” he added.