Commuters and other road users of the Benin-Lagos Expressway were on Monday 15, August 2022, stranded as hundreds of vehicle spare parts dealers in the popular Uwelu International Spare Parts Market shut down the Ugbowo axis of the highway over the deplorable condition of the Uwelu Road that leads to the market.
The protest caused traffic gridlock, as motorists and commuters coming from Lagos and those going out of town were trapped for several hours.
The traders who also shut their shops in the market, barricaded the ever-busy highway. Mostly affected were workers of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and those of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
Commuters had to trek from the UNIBEN Main Gate to Saint Patrick Catholic Church before they could board buses to their respective destinations, while those heading to Ugbowo from Ring Road and New Benin had to trek from Five Junction to Ugbowo.
One of the protesting traders who identified himself as Chinedu, lamented that the deplorable condition of the road has badly affected their businesses, as customers could no longer access the market.
He said, “Many of our members no longer come to the market as the road has completely cut us off and customers no longer come to patronize us.
“The most annoying part of it is that while we cannot do business in the market, government agents come to the market every day to collect revenue.”
A commuter, who identified herself as Simas Sarah, said she had to trek to Uselu Market from 5-Junction, as a result of the traffic gridlock.
The protesters said they were prepared to remain on the road until government addressed their problem.
Labels
Edo News