22nd November, 2015
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Cross River chapter, says it has lost 36 of its members between Odukpani and Itu road in the last three months.
Mr Victor Okon, Chairman of the association, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday.
He attributed the deaths to accidents caused by damaged portions of the road.
“So, the association took the decision to fill the potholes to save the lives of our members and also protect our vehicles.
“We have started palliative repair of the damaged portions of the Odukpani-Calabar federal road.
The chairman said members of the association had suffered greatly along the road due to its deplorable condition.
“It affects us badly. We suffer losses more than any other road users. For your information, we have lost 36 of our members between Odukpani and Itu in the last three months.
“So, the association took the decision to fill the potholes to save the lives of our members and also protect our vehicles,” he said.
Okon urged the Federal and Cross River Governments to take urgent steps to repair the road to prevent further loss of lives.
According to him, besides deaths, the bad condition of the road had also affected state’s economy negatively.
He said members of the association paid their taxes regularly and called on government to reciprocate by ensuring good road network.
He commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), for the recent launch of the Ember Months Mega Rally in the state.
The chairman pledged the union’s support for FRSC to enable it to achieve an accident-free yuletide 2015.
Okon also pledged the union’s support for the state government’s transport policies and programmes which he said were progressive.