A member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has commended the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for his commitment towards solving the perennial issue of bad roads in the country.
Ugochinyere, in a statement, said with Umahi’s laudable track record in Ebonyi State and his emergence as Works Minister, he’s optimistic that he will prioritise repairs of collapsed roads, devastating erosion menace and bridges nationwide.
The lawmaker particularly appealed to the minister to fix the gully erosion in Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State and the devastating erosion menace at Umuchima along the collapsed Orlu-Mgbe-Umuchima-Akokwa federal road.
He expressed concern that as a result of the gully erosion, houses and landed properties situated within the precincts of the road have been completely washed off, while many residents have fled from the area, for the fear of their lives.
He also appealed to the minister to urgently repair or reconstruct the failed portions of the Oba-Aguata-Akokwa- Arondizuogu-Okigwe Road in Idemili North/ldemili South, Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo, Aguata and Ideato North/ldeato South Federal Constituencies of Anambra and Imo States.
He lamented that despite the construction, repairs, or maintenance work carried out on the road by FERMA and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the past, the road has remained in a deplorable state.
Ugochinyere said, “I commend the Minister of Works, David, his commitment towards solving the perennial issue of bad roads in the country. While I’m optimistic that he will prioritise repairs of collapsed roads, bridges nationwide, I appeal to him to see that the resolutions of my motions adopted by the House of Representatives to fix the gully erosion in Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass in Ideato South and reconstruct the failed portions of the Oba-Aquata-Akokwa- Arondizuogu-Okigwe Road in Idemili North/ldemili South, Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo, Aguata and Ideato North/ldeato South Federal Constituencies of Anambra and Imo States are complied to.
“As a result of the deplorable state of the road, economic and commercial activities in the surrounding communities have crumbled. Traders and travellers around Nnewi, Onitsha, Uga, Akokwa, and Arondizuogu communities in Anambra and Imo States have abandoned the area for fear of their lives and safety. The bad portion of the Oba-Nnewi-Uga-Akokwa-Arondizuogu-Okigwe road in ldemili North/South, Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo, Aguata and ldeato North/South Federal Constituencies of Anambra and Imo States of Nigeria have become the centre-stage of criminality, with gunmen taking over the area to carry out criminal activities such as stealing, kidnapping, killing of innocent road users, among others.
“The advent of the rainy season, the already deplorable state of the road has been worsen and inhabitants of the said communities are no longer able to go about their daily activities freely as their lives and properties are under threat due to the torrential erosions that ensue from the rains.”