Pecohub The Students’ Union Government of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, has issued an appeal to both federal and state authorities over the dilapidated condition of major access roads leading to the university.
According to the students, the situation has not only crippled academic life but also exposed them to growing insecurity and economic hardship.
It was said that drivers under the National Union of Road Transport Workers in FUTO are reportedly grappling with frequent vehicle breakdowns caused by the poor road conditions, forcing them to increase transport fares.
This was disclosed in a statement co-signed by the SUG President, Blessed Ogbonna, and the Secretary General, Opara Prince, and made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday.
“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 union pointed specifically to the Obinze–FUTO front gate road and the Ihiagwa–FUTO back gate road as the worst-hit, describing them as “vital lifelines” now reduced to dangerous, impassable paths.
The SUG President stated that the Ihiagwa road has remained a disaster zone “for what feels like an eternity,” with no meaningful effort to fix it.
He added that the Obinze road, the main artery to the campus, had been “completely impassable for over four agonising months due to abandoned construction,” saying the disruption had severely affected daily life on campus.
“Our lecturers, our staff, our very lifeline to knowledge, they’re all cut off!
“This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a financial strangulation.
“Our transportation costs have skyrocketed, draining our pockets and crushing our spirits!” Ogbonna lamented.
The union also raised concerns about the economic toll on both students and transport operators within the school environment.
The SUG Public Relations Officer, Paul Alajemba, described the situation as one that affects the entire university ecosystem.
