THE poor condition of federal roads in Anambra State is giving the residents sleepless nights in the state.
Though works have started on some of them, like the Onitsha -Awka expressway, the road, among others, is still a death trap to motorists.
Those who ply the expressway, the Oba -Nnewi -Okigwe road, Anam -Kogi road have continued to lament, saying the government does not have the interest of the state at heart.
While some of them are of the opinion that the federal government has kept deaf ears over the plight of the residents, some others have given kudos to the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for remembering the people.
One of the chieftains of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and State Coordinator, Transform Nigeria Movement (TNM), Comrade Obi Ochije, told The Nation that the President has remembered Igbo in his administration.
Some of the motorists who spoke with The Nation, say they are going through hard times in the state because of the condition of the roads.
As a result, prices of transportation have been jerked up in the state as it now takes an hour to ply from Onitsha to Awka instead of the usual 30 minutes.
A journey from Onitsha to Enugu now takes about three hours instead of the normal one hour.
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The Project Supervisor, in charge of expressway of Awka, Engr. Chidi Ezeala, told The Nation that he had embarked on inspection of the project.
However, he said the Federal Ministry of Works is not relenting in making sure that the roads are fixed accordingly.
He also said work has not stopped on any of the roads mentioned, noting that the only impediment that slowed down progress of work is the rain
Ezeala maintained that work is likely to begin on the other lane of the expressway after the rains, while the first lane would equally be ongoing.
Mr. Chimaobi Osita, a driver with Sunny Star Transport Company in Awka, told The Nation that the situation has become unbearable to them.
He said that accidents happen along the Onitsha, Awka expressway almost on daily basis as a result of the dilapidated nature of the road.
Osita, lamented that the Umunya -Awkuzu axis of the road that had been fixed by the government was blocked, adding that they are now forced to go through Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area every day.
He however, appealed to the federal government to, as matter of urgency, look into the plight of computers and residents in the state by hastening up work on the route.
The Onitsha -Awka expressway is not the only federal road in the state that is not fixed. Others are Oba -Nnewi -Okigwe road which had been fixed halfway, among others.
Comrade Ochije, who is the Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Community Development, believed that the Buhari administration is doing its best in alleviating the sufferings of the masses on the roads.
He heaped the problem being faced, on the slow pace of the contracting firm handling the federal projects in the state. According to him, another thing slowing down progress of work on those roads was lack of commitment on the people charged with supervision of the roads.
Also, a human rights activist, Comrade Osita Obi, told The Nation that he believes in Buhari’s style of governance, adding that the people should exercise patience a little bit.
According to him, “I know those roads will soon be fixed, the only thing I think that has slowed down progress of work on those roads is the rain.”
“I believe so much on this present administration led by Buhari no matter how others see it. One side of the road had been fixed while work is ongoing in so many other places. My brother, this is what the past administrations could not do in many years,” he said.
“I don’t like the way our people behave at times; we are always quick in judging people. We should be happy that a Daniel has come to judgement; after the rains, work will start again and that is my belief, so, there is no cause for alarm,” Obi said.
Those who are in pains and agony over bad condition of federal roads in Anambra State however include the lawmaker, representing Anambra West Constituency, Patrick Udoba.
Not only that he is a lawmaker, he is also the Chairman, House Committee on Transportation in Anambra State House of Assembly.
Speaking with The Nation in Awka, Udoba lamented the deplorable conditions of most federal roads in the state.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Ministry of Works and other concerned agencies to expedite action in rehabilitation and completion of the deplorable roads.
He said their quick intervention would help to save lives and the untold hardship the good people of the state and neighbouring states were passing through.
Udoba noted that most federal roads in the state were in deplorable state as accidents claim the lives of the citizenry in large proportion almost on daily basis.
He listed such roads as, Enugu – Awka – Onitsha Expressway, especially at Awkwuzu- Odumodu axis, Onitsha- Owerri Road, Onitsha – Ayamelum, Umueze- Anam -Nzam -Kogi -Abuja road.
He said all these roads had become death traps to motorists and residents, urging Mr. President to come to their aid without further delay.
He explained that commuters traveling through Anambra West roads could get to Abuja within two hours, noting that Igala and Kogi speaking areas are their neighbouring communities hence, the need for urgent intervention in the said roads.
The lawmaker noted that Anambra West was the food basket of the state, stressing the importance of having federal budget on a yearly basis on the said road for its completion.
Udoba said the Assembly members had moved several motions to that effect, while appealing to the President to give them listening ears and rehabilitate the roads to ease the untold hardships commuters in Anambra State are going through.
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