Eleme Junction, widely regarded as one of the major gateways into Port Harcourt, is facing growing concerns over environmental degradation, traffic disorder and insecurity, with residents and stakeholders calling for urgent government intervention to restore sanity to the area.
The strategic location of Eleme Junction makes it particularly important to the economic life and image of Rivers State. The area is surrounded by vibrant commercial activities and serves as a major transit point for residents, visitors and business people entering and leaving Port Harcourt.
At the heart of the junction is an interchange beneath which the popular Oil Mill Market operates. The market attracts traders and customers from different parts of Rivers State as well as neighbouring states, making it an important commercial hub.
The area also hosts several motor parks, bus terminals and numerous businesses that cater to the large population of commuters and traders who pass through the junction daily.
However, what should ordinarily serve as a befitting gateway and announce the beauty and serenity of Port Harcourt, popularly known as the Garden City, has increasingly become associated with disorder, environmental pollution and insecurity.
Traders are said to have extended their activities onto roads and other spaces meant for vehicular and pedestrian movement, while commercial activities have contributed to congestion around the axis.
The situation is further compounded by indiscriminate dumping of refuse, with waste littering different parts of the area. The resulting stench and unhygienic environment have raised concerns about public health and the overall cleanliness of the city.
Beyond the environmental concerns, however, is the growing security challenge confronting commuters, traders and other residents of the area.
Reports of one-chance robbery, pickpocketing, armed robbery, stabbing and other violent crimes have created a sense of fear among people who use the area, particularly at night.
Speaking to Kristina Reports on the situation, the Coordinator of Community Advancement Initiative (CIA), Edoo Friday, described the area as worrisome and one that requires urgent government attention.
He explained that the situation becomes particularly disturbing after nightfall, saying that from about 6pm, residents and commuters are often left without adequate assurance of security presence. According to him, people are robbed, stabbed and, in some cases, killed, while moving through the area.
“Government should therefore not look the other way while these dastardly acts continue unabated.
Just few days ago, a young man in transit was stabbed and all his belongings were taken while left in the pool of his own very blood and nacked”.
Edoo Friday said the situation should not be allowed to continue in an area that serves as one of the major entry points into Port Harcourt.
He therefore called on the Rivers State Government to urgently replan the Eleme Junction axis and introduce structures capable of restoring order, improving security and enhancing the appearance of the area.
Among the measures he advocated is the development of a modern market that would provide a properly organised environment for traders while freeing roads and other public spaces from indiscriminate trading.
He also called for the establishment of standard motor parks and bus terminals to properly regulate transportation activities and reduce the congestion associated with the current arrangement.
On security, Edoo Friday urged the government to consider the establishment of a police station within the area, alongside increased security patrols, to protect lives and property and deter criminals who take advantage of the chaotic environment.
He further advocated the installation of adequate streetlights across the junction and adjoining areas, particularly to improve visibility and enhance security during the night. According to him, improved lighting, organised commercial activities and stronger security presence would significantly discourage criminal activities and make the area safer for residents, traders and commuters.
The CIA Coordinator also called for a collaborative response involving the Rivers State Government, local government authorities, security agencies, non-governmental organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
He stressed that the challenges confronting the Eleme Junction axis are too significant to be addressed by one agency alone, urging stakeholders to work together to restore order, cleanliness and security to the area.
For many residents and commuters, restoring Eleme Junction to a clean, orderly, well-lit and secure gateway to Port Harcourt is no longer merely a question of aesthetics, but one of public safety, economic development and the dignity of Rivers State.
