Importers of goods and truck drivers are requesting answers from the South Sudanese government as to when the Juba-Nimule highway will be repaired.
The Juba-Nimule highway is a lifeline for South Sudan, which imports almost everything from neighbouring countries.
The first ever 192-kelomtres paved road was built by the United States government to foster economic growth in South Sudan. After its completion in 2012, the road reduced travel time between Nimule and Juba from eight hours to less than three hours.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, several truck drivers and importers of goods complained of the poor road of the paved road, saying the poor road condition hinders the timely importation of goods, especially perishable goods, which they said creates enormous losses.
Moses Sansa, a Ugandan trader who imports goods from Uganda to South Sudan, said: “The road going from Nimule going to Juba, there are some parts which have some potholes, it also affects the importation when you talk of perishable goods sometimes due to poor roads and the delay will lead to the delay of goods reaching to the destination,” he said.
“The government should look into the matter for better importation of the goods. You realize the vehicle can take more than three days; traders dealing with perishable goods will arrive when the goods spoiled. The government should repair the road,” he added.
Another businessman, Denis Logia, said most vehicles travel 4-5 days from Nimule to Torit via Juba road. He also complained of heavy charges and delays of business vehicles along the Juba-Nimule checkpoints.
“for sure, the road is not okay; there are many potholes along the road going from Nimule up to Nesitu coming to Torit. There are many checkpoints on the way; the vehicles are going via Juba, which is a very long way. If they are to work on that road along Magwi to Opari, it will be straightforward so that traders can try to avoid the other checkpoints for Juba,” he said.
For his part, Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Roads and Bridges, Jildo Abala, said repairs of the Juba-Nimule highway is the sole responsibility of the national government in Juba.
“The road from Juba to Nimule is a highway under the National Ministry of Roads, and to put something right, it needs money, and you know even our situation, you can even understand as of now imagine now we have entered four months without the salary and if feeding alone is a problem where shall we get that money for the road repairs? We have a huge challenge: there is no money,” he said.
The National Ministry of Roads and Bridges could not immediately comment.