Residents and motorists in the Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently tackle worsening gully erosion at Auchi, which is eroding portions of the Benin-Okene highway.
The residents, including motorists, made the appeal while speaking with journalists on Thursday.
According to report as at press time, the gully at the Elele axis of the highway was getting wider by the day, thereby restricting vehicles to one lane of the road.
Also, the gully by Oando Petrol Station at Auchi, also on the highway, was also begging for attention.
One of the residents, Ibrahim Osemoboh said the gullies on the road now posed a huge danger to motorists.
According to him, one of the lanes of the road is now fully gone, with the second lane under serious threat.
Osemoboh said: “The gullies have been a threat to road users following the consistent down pour of the last few days.
“The situation is further compounded by trucks which are now falling around the gullies.
“Vehicles now have to take turns to cross the bad spots, under the supervision of some residents in the neighborhood.”
Also reacting, a transporter, Matthew Anetekhai, said that apart from the road being endangered by the gullies, its present state constituted a threat to lives.
Anetekhai noted that frequent accidents now occurred on the road due to the hazards of gully erosion.
He noted: “This road has become a death trap for motorists, with frequent accidents occurring as a result of the gullies on it.
“Most of us who travel on the road are not happy with the development and we want the government to act fast, before it claims lives.”
Momodu Ikhide, another road user, urged the Federal Government to urgently fix the road, adding that portions of it were now caving in, due to the effect of the gullies.
He stated: “Motorists who are not familiar with the terrain are now falling into the gullies, and they usually have their vehicles damaged.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to fix all the bad spots on the highway, in order to avert accidents on the road, especially at night.”