Students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, have raised the alarm over the deplorable state of key access roads leading to the institution, calling on both the federal and state governments to take urgent action.
In a statement jointly signed by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Blessed Ogbonna, and Secretary-General, Opara Prince, the union decried the worsening condition of the Obinze–FUTO front gate road and the Ihiagwa–FUTO back gate road, which they described as “vital lifelines” now reduced to death traps.
“Our university community is trapped in a harrowing reality where the very roads meant to connect us to education have become a perilous nightmare, endangering academic pursuits, crippling our finances, and escalating the threat of insecurity,” the statement read.
The students lamented that the Ihiagwa road has been in disrepair for years, while the Obinze road has become completely impassable due to abandoned construction for over four months. These conditions, they say, have severely affected daily campus life, including the movement of lecturers and staff.
“Our transportation costs have skyrocketed, draining our pockets and crushing our spirits,” said Ogbonna.
Transport workers under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) are reportedly dealing with frequent vehicle breakdowns, leading to increased fares. The SUG Public Relations Officer, Paul Alajemba, added that the road crisis is affecting the entire university ecosystem, inflating the cost of goods and services due to rising operational expenses.
The union also criticized delays in the federal government’s Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation. While Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tricycles have been supplied to FUTO, they remain unusable as the accompanying filling station is still under construction after more than four months. Promised CNG buses have also not arrived.
“This initiative, though commendable in theory, has become a mere fairy tale for the FUTO community,” the union said.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Chikwendu Emenike Orji, acknowledged the crisis and said the Imo State Government is addressing the issue, albeit slowly.
In addition to transport challenges, the students raised serious concerns over rising insecurity in off-campus areas. They said criminals now exploit the poor road conditions and darkness to target student lodges, leaving victims injured and traumatized.
“The deplorable roads have become perfect cover for criminals, making it nearly impossible for security agencies to respond swiftly,” the union warned.
FUTO students are now urging immediate intervention to restore safe and reliable access roads, boost campus security, and ensure the full implementation of the promised federal relief scheme.
