By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the construction company handling the ongoing reconstruction of the Akpajo-Onne axis of the East-West Road in Eleme local government area of Rivers State, RCC Limited to provide a smooth alternative lane for the movement of commuters pending the completion of the project to prevent further loss of Lives on the road
This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent importance moved by Hon. Felix Uche. over the loss of many lives while several vehicles were burnt on the road when a tanker laden with premium motor spirit (PMS) overturned and spilled its contents on the road, leading to a fire outbreak.
Most of the affected vehicles and their occupants were those trapped due to traffic gridlock occasioned by the ongoing reconstruction.
While moving the motion, Hon Uche said at about 8pm on Friday the 26th day of April 2024, a yet to be ascertained number of persons including a pregnant woman and Children and over Eighty vehicles were burnt beyond recognition in the incident.
He observed that the Eleme axis of the East West road has been under construction by Messers Reynolds Construction Company (RCC).
He added that he had moved a motion in June 2023 on the bad state of the road.
The lawmaker observed that despite the importance of the road and the daily heavy traffic on that road, RCC has purportedly failed to provide a smooth alternative for commuters while the construction is done at a very slow rate.
He observed that all the cars trapped in the fire were in a gridlock and had no way to reverse or escape from the
incident.
When the motion was put into voice vote by the Speaker Hon Tajudeen Abbas who presided over the Plenary session, it was unanimously supported by members
The House mandated the Federal Ministry of Works and RCC to ensure that there were traffic marshalls on the road to direct traffic, ensure free flow of traffic and avoid gridlock of cars on the long stretch of the road under construction.
The House mandated the Ministry of Works to ensure that RCC steps up the pace of the road construction to ensure completion in record time and and mandated the House Committee on works to ensure compliance.
