NIMBA – Concerns are mounting over bad road conditions in the upper region of Liberia’s largest county, Nimba, Rural Reporters News Network (RRNN) has reliably gathered.
Nimba County, located in Liberia’s northeastern region, is the country’s most populous county, and is also the largest in size, covering a land area of 11,551 km2 or 4,460 square kilometers.
Bad road conditions in Upper Nimba are taking a toll on many in Upper Nimba, especially road users, who are mostly business people, according to an RRNN reporter in the area.
Our reporter quotes commuters, particularly business people as complaining about bad road connectivity in Upper Nimba, which they said is hindering economic progress and daily life.
Several businesswomen traveling via the Sanniquellie – Yekepa road corridor in Upper Nimba County have made a call for world steel giant Arcelor Mittal-Liberia for the company’s interventions in the bad road crisis in the area.
Some of the businesswomen also called on the Government of Liberia to complete construction works on the Sanniquellie – Yekepa stretch of road.
As a result of deplorable roads in the area, there has been a hike in transport fares.
Prior to the roads getting deplorable, it cost between L$400 to L$500, to commute from Sanniquellie to Yekepa on motorbike. But due to the deplorable conditions of the road, commuters are now paying between L$600 to L$800, while on commercial vehicles, transport fares have increased from L$600 to L$1000.
Amelia Besom, a businesswoman in Upper Nimba decried the bad road conditions, especially during the rainy season.
She expressed frustration over the deplorable condition of the Sanniquellie to Yekepa stretch of road, which she said has become a major problem, with the road littered with potholes and mud, rendering it nearly impassable.
Benson, who regularly travels between Sanniquellie and Guinea through Yekepa, lamented that the situation has made business people also increase the prices of goods purchased from neighboring Guinea.
The local businesswoman, who explained that she feels uncomfortable, charging exorbitantly for commodities sold locally, noted that they (business people) have to do so, so as not to incur losses and to also accrue a little profit.
Meanwhile, several citizens and residents of Upper Nimba are urging President Joseph Boakai to speedily fulfill his promise to rehabilitate roads and improve the country’s infrastructure.
The citizens and residents are demanding immediate action to address the deplorable road conditions, which are hindering economic growth and posing livelihood challenges to many.
