BEKWARRA – The Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Cross River State chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Olayi, has issued a strong call for the immediate dismantling of all roadblocks and illegal toll points mounted along the Kasinala–Abuchiche federal highway, describing the situation as “outright exploitation” of road users.
Olayi made the declaration during an on-the-spot inspection of the highway under the council’s “Future First” youth engagement and project assessment tour, where he condemned the presence of more than ten toll points within a short stretch of the failed road.
He said the practice not only deepens the suffering of commuters but also reflects a disturbing disregard for the welfare of citizens.
“It is completely unjustifiable to be collecting money from people on a road that is practically impassable,” Olayi said. “This is not governance; this is exploitation. You cannot continue to milk the people without delivering basic infrastructure.”
The youth leader questioned the transparency and accountability surrounding the revenues generated from the toll points, insisting that if properly utilized, such funds should have significantly improved the condition of the road.
“Where are the funds going to?” he queried. “If government is sincere, the amount collected over time should have translated into visible repairs. What we see here is neglect, not development.”
Olayi further warned that deploying youths to man toll points on a deteriorated highway exposes them to serious danger, especially from frustrated motorists who may react violently.
“You are putting young lives on the line in the name of revenue collection,” he said. “This is unacceptable and must stop immediately.”
Field observations by journalists revealed severe gridlock along the highway, with over 50 trucks and numerous smaller vehicles trapped for hours due to the combined effect of the bad road and the multiple checkpoints. Several trucks were seen stuck or overturned, resulting in significant losses, particularly for farmers transporting perishable goods.
Olayi called on relevant authorities to act without delay by removing all unauthorized toll points and prioritizing the rehabilitation of the road, stressing that continued inaction would further cripple economic activities and worsen the plight of citizens.
“This road is too critical to be abandoned while people are subjected to daily hardship,” he added. “Fix the road, or stop collecting from the people. It cannot continue like this.”
