Following complaints from students of the Abia State University (ABSU) and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), the state government has started the reconstruction of the Umudike-Ikot-Ekpene Road. This is a relief for students, workers, traders and those who ply the road, reports FORTUNE AMAECHI (ABSU).
When Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu gave the nod for the reconstruction of the Ikot-Ekpene – Umudike Road, Umuahia North, Abia State, students of the Abia State University and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, traders, commercial bus drivers and workers heaved a sigh of relief.
The governor announced the rehabilitation in a statement by Information Commissioner Chief John Okiyi Kalu.
The statement said Ikpeazu had directed the State Building Commissioner, Elder Bob Ogu, to assess the level of work that needed to be done on the road.
Kalu added that an indigenous construction company was contacted to start work on the road last week after receiving assessment report.
The statement reads in part: “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu invited the State Commissioner of Works, Elder Bob Ogu, to a meeting in his office and directed him to mobilise a contractor to immediately carry out remedial repairs to the failed parts of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road after receiving reports about the terrible state of the federal highway that leads to the prestigious Michael Okpara Agricultural University, Umudike (MOUAU), and the difficulties experienced by travellers using the highway that also links our state with some states neighbours.”
CAMPUS LIFE had earlier reported that incessant rain had worsened the condition of the road with students and other road users lamenting the sorry state of the road.
Sadly, a final year student of the Fishery and Aquatic Resources Management Department of MOUAU, was crushed to death by a truck on October 3 before repairs began on the road.
The late student, Chidinma Ogbonna, was said to have been hit by a truck on the deplorable road. This led to a peaceful protest by students who called for the fixing of the road.
Part-time students of MOUAU who commenced their exams recently said they were delighted because they longer had to spend hours on a particular spot due to traffic caused by the bad road.
The regular students of MOUAU and ABSU are not left out.
Students, workers, traders, others hail governor
For Ayo Gbenga, Food Science and Technology student of ABSU, Ikpeazu has demonstrated his love and humane nature to students.
“I want to thank our governor for coming to our rescue. Once again, he has shown us that he has our interest at heart. The governor, by this, has saved us from some accidents and losses of different kinds. Kudos to him,” he said.
Joy Christopher, a trader at Ahiaeke Market, who uses the road regularly, said: “May God bless the governor for what he has done. I get really scared at times when I have to use the bad road because I know of some of my fellow traders whom their goods have been wasted in the dirty water, though it never happened to me. The governor has done well for us but he should try and ensure the job is done efficiently.”
A non-academic staff member of MOUAU, who pleaded anonymity, described the development as heart-warming.
She recounted her bitter experience on the road, adding that some of her colleagues who owned cars encountered problems using the road.
A lecturer of Food Science and Technology, ABSU, who craved anonymity, thanked the governor and his team for listening to the people. The lecturer explained that his car had broken down on the road and it took him hours to get a towing van.
Michael Francis, a student of MOUAU, said: “This is no small project from the governor. I want to thank the governor of this amazing state who has thought of us with compassion. He knows it is important to repair the bad road. Honestly, then the rate of traffic jam on our road was alarming, so much so that one had to come out very early in to get to his destination on time.”
Another student of ABSU, Rachael Anyanwu, wants the governor to do a follow-up on the road to prevent shoddy execution of the project.
“I can recall how vehicles broke down and other terrible things happened to people on the bad road. God bless our governor for taking action regarding the road. I want to plead with our good governor to please make sure that those in charge execute the project very well. They should be well monitored,” she said.
Richard Charles, a Veterinary Medicine student of MOUAU, said: “By this huge act, the governor has salvaged the situation. I say thank you to the governor. I would also want to plead with the governor that those in charge of the repairs of the road should not leave it halfway.”
Victor Nwizu, a Law student of ABSU, who praised the governor, recalled how he fell into a flooded pothole on the road.
“I remember vividly how I fell into the flooded pothole. How about traders who lost goods worth large amounts of money on the road? I say a big thank you to the governor for commencing the repair of the road, he has saved us a lot of troubles.”
Victor Chibuike, an Agriculture Economics and Extension student of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), said: “I came to visit my cousin and I travelled on the terrible road. I’m glad the story has changed for good in that the governor of the state has started work on the road. Another good thing is that, not only is he working on this Umudike Road, he is working on other roads around.”
Grace Iheme, a Soil Science student of MOUAU, said: “If I start to recount all that the bad road then caused me, we would not finish today. I mean one could be at a particular spot for hours and, after everything, you would still have to walk to school.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to thank our governor for his good deeds.”
Okoroafor David, a tricyclist, said his tricycle had broken down many times on the road. He, however, thanked the governor for remembering the people.
“Riding on that road, I had to risk my tricycle breaking down. There were times when, in a day, my tricycle would break down due to the condition of the road. Now, I can ride freely along without panic and fear. I want to say thank you to our governor and may God bless him.”
David Henry, a Mechanical Engineering student of MOUAU, said: “I deeply appreciate this kind gesture of the governor towards us, especially students. I know what many of us had encountered on the road. Some of us fell into the water, some missed classes and exams, but this governor who cares has come to our aid.”
Patra Onyeji, a Food Science student of ABSU, said life would be easier for students and everyone plying the road with the repairs.
Her words: “On the road, especially during the rainy season, buses fully loaded with goods and other things break down right in the middle of big potholes, then you see people coming down from the buses, having to dip their legs into the mud, but now that the road has started undergoing repairs, life will be made much easier.”
Okezie Emmanuel, a student of MOUAU said: “I want to plead with the governor that those in charge of this reconstruction project should be adequately supervised to ensure they carried out their duties well. I thank the governor for swinging into action on time because it was getting to a point where the road would have been unmotorable.”