By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has raised alarm over recurring road traffic accidents along the Waterside–Ogbor Hill axis of Aba, Abia State, describing the corridor as one of the most dangerous in the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, FENRAD said the persistent crashes have resulted in avoidable deaths, severe injuries and loss of livelihoods, posing serious public safety and human rights concerns.
The group attributed the accidents to heavy vehicular congestion, uncontrolled traffic movement, pedestrian exposure and the absence of basic road safety infrastructure.
Executive Director of FENRAD, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, noted that the Waterside–Ogbor Hill axis is a major commercial and transportation hub with intense daily vehicular and pedestrian activity, stressing that poor traffic planning has worsened the situation.
He said the lack of modern traffic engineering solutions such as flyovers, pedestrian bridges, effective traffic flow systems and proper signage has increased the risk of fatal crashes.
FENRAD called on the Abia State Government, led by Governor Alex Otti, to urgently prioritise the construction of flyovers and overhead pedestrian bridges, as well as comprehensive road redesigns to separate vehicular and human traffic.
The organisation also urged the government to commission an independent traffic, environmental and social impact assessment to guide sustainable interventions, alongside strict enforcement of road safety regulations, installation of speed-calming measures and public sensitisation.
“Road safety is a human rights issue. When lives are repeatedly lost due to poor traffic management and unsafe infrastructure, urgent corrective action becomes a moral and constitutional obligation,” Nwafor said.
FENRAD further called on relevant ministries, road safety agencies, urban planners and traffic management authorities to collaborate and act without delay, while encouraging civil society groups, community leaders and the media to sustain advocacy for lasting solutions.
