The Nation Newspaper

Tag: abandoned road

  • Fed Govt rebuilds abandoned road in Anambra

    The joy of the people of Nteje, Umunya, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Awkuzu and Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State knew no bounds as the Federal Government continues work on the abandoned Umunya-Awkuzu portion of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway in the state.

    For many years, that portion of the expressway claimed lives because of the extent of dilapidation.

    The Onitsha axis of the expressway was reconstructed by the former governor of the state, Peter Obi.

    The money amounting to over N40 billion which the state government spent on the reconstruction has not been repaid by the Federal Government.

    The jubilant mood of the communities was displayed during the visit of the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to the state to inspect work on the road.

    The 18km road has been a nightmare to motorists over the years, but four kilometrest of it has already been completed.

    The Minister declared that the entire project would be completed on or before 2021.

    Drums were rolled out by the affected communities with different dancing troops to entertain the crowed and visitors.

    The traditional rulers of the communities led by Igwe Roland Odegbo of Nteje were on hand to receive the federal government delegation with pomp.

    The youth were not left out with placards singing praises of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government for coming to alleviate their sufferings

    Fashola, who was represented by the Director, Highways in the Federal Ministry of works, Engr. Yemi Oguntomiyi said he was satisfied with the progress and quality of work on the road.

    He said during the last visit by the Minister on the road, the contractor promised that one lane of the road would be completed to lessen the hardships of the people, knowing the importance of the road not only to the region, but the entire country.

    Also speaking, the Anambra State Controller of Works, Engr. Adeyemo Ajani, said the contract was awarded in 2015, while the contractor moved to site in 2018.

    He said work had progressed well, adding that since the contractors were not lacking anything, it was possible that the work would be completed in record time.

    Not only that, the Minister used the moment  to flag off the construction of  Housing scheme embarked upon by the federal government at Umunya.

    The 236 hectares of land situated  at the Umunya -Awkuzu communities was donated to the government in 1987.

    According to Oguntomiyi, the target of the federal government was to provide accommodation for 21,000 persons when completed.

    The traditional ruler of Umunya, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje, said Awkuzu and Umunya were happy,as the government’s presence was being felt in their areas.

    For the traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe Roland Odegbo, the reconstruction of the expressway and the Housing scheme, had shown that president Buhari has good plans for Igbo.

    He commended Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano for being apostle of truth, adding that he continue showing the light for others to follow in the Southeast.

     

  • Residents lament abandoned road

    Residents lament abandoned road

    There was chaos on Monday in Abule-Egba/ New Oko-Oba axis of Ojokoro Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) of Lagos state following the shutdown of Owode Street, a major link road to New Oko-Oba and Fagba.

    Commuters around Jonathan Coker, Charity, Agbe and Olaniyi strets were left stranded because of the heavy traffic. School children and workers trekked long distances to link Abule-Egba.

    According to investigations, the traffic gridlock was caused by the breakdown of Owode Street following Saturday’s down pour.  The street had always been used as alternative route by motorists trying to link the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway from Oko-Oba, Fagba and Jankara.

    Owode Residents Association Chairman, Mr Samson Seriki said:  “Owode Street is a major exit point for all motorists, including Okada riders, Marwa operators and private cars to the Abeokuta expressway, over the years; it has eased traffic from the surrounding areas because motorists can divert to this road. But for over three years, the road has been decrepit. Any time it rains, it becomes completely useless both for diversionary purposes and for residents of the street.”

    A portion of the road was cordoned off yesterday with used tyres and stones to prevent cars from getting stuck in the mud.  Several commercial buses, tricycles popularly called Marwa and Okada riders were parked on the street. “We are unable to use the road and this road which has been saving us is now unusable; we have appealed to Ojokoro LCDA, but nothing has been done. That is why we are now appealing to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to save us”, another resident, Alhaji Saludeen Tiamiyu, said.

    Tiamiyu said essential service vehicles like ambulances, waste disposal vans and school buses have been unable to access the street.

    Some of the executives of the Tricycle Riders Association, who spoke to The Nation, said they had spent a fortune trying to fix the road when all entreaties to the council authorities failed.  They complained that despite paying dues running to several thousands of naira daily, the council has failed to put any palliative measure in place.

    “This is the worst road in the Abule-Egba area. It has been abandoned for a long time, the government knows about it but they have refused to do anything,” one of the officials who did not want to be named told The Nation.

    The residents appealed to Ambode help them out before the rainy season.

    Ojokoro LCDA Executive Secretary Mrs Fausat Hassan-Olajoku, who visited the street with council engineers and other members of her transition committee, promised that something would be done to make the road accessible again.

    “The time for talking is over, this is the time for action,” she said.

  • Community laments abandoned road

    Community laments abandoned road

    The people of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area in Enugu State have cried out to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to complete the Ugwogo-Neke-Ikem Road started by the past administration of Sullivan Chime.

    The road could not be completed by the previous administration and residents fear it might have been abandoned.

    •The dangerous Isi-Uzo Bridge
    •The dangerous Isi-Uzo Bridge

    Residents of Ikem community, who spoke on the poor state of the road, also bemoaned the condition of the Ebenyi Bridge at Ikem-Uno, which they said has become a death trap.

    They urged the new administration in the state to alleviate the suffering of motorists, the indigenes and other travellers on the road to connect neighbouring communities in Udenu Local Government Area, Benue and Ebonyi states.

    A businessman at the local government headquarters, Ndubuisi Odo, lamented that his business across the Ebenyi River has since been paralysed as he finds it difficult crossing the dangerous bridge built by federal troops shortly after the end of the Civil War.

    An auto panel beater at Ikem Junction across the river confessed that his business has been good since the bridge always wrecked vehicles, thus bringing their drivers to him for repairs.

    A vulcanizer in the same location also told the same story of making brisk business from deflated tyres.

    The traditional ruler of Ikem-Uno, Igwe Okechechukwu Ogbodo, while appreciating the effort of the past administration in constructing the road, pleaded with the new state administration to help complete the construction of the bridge and the remaining few meters of the road to join Nsukka-Nkalagu Road at Ukwumango.

    The monarch disclosed that the hanging bridge was being maintained by community effort, especially by the late President General of the Ikem community, Greg Ugwueze, adding that since the demise of Ugwueze, condition of the bridge has worsened and became impassable.

    Investigation from the state ministry of works indicated that the bridge was awarded at the cost of N350m to a contractor from Greyline Construction Company that constructed the 28km Ugwogo-Ikem road, yet the bridge remained uncompleted by the past administration.

    It was also learnt that the contractor was not mobilized up to 20 percent of the contract sum, yet the contractor sourced for money to erect piles of the bridge with hope that the past administration would pay up before May 29 but that did not happen and the contractor was frustrated, hence the contractor’s withdrawal from site.

    Another resident of Isi-Uzo LGA, Ugwu Ishingene from Neke, also lamented that even the tarred road from Ugwogo with shoulders and drains of the road have remained uncompleted and pleaded with the new administration of Ugwuanyi to come to the rescue of the Isi-Uzo communities affected by the predicament.

  • Communities groan over abandoned road

    Communities groan over abandoned road

    When the contract for the Amansea-Ndikpa-Ndiukwuenu-Awa-Ufuma road was awarded by the administration of former Governor Peter Obi to Stanutti–stocks Construction firm about two years ago, there was jubilation by members of the communities through which the road passed.

    The contract was over N8 billion. The completion date was 18 months.

    Moved by what the communities perceived as government’s care for their well-being, the communities vowed to give total allegiance and support to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during the 2015 general elections.

    However, their joy was short-lived as they noticed that the road which has suffered over 150 years of neglect is about to be abandoned after contract for its construction was awarded.

    The road traverses six communities namely, Amansea, Ndikpa, Ozu, Forest Reserve, Ndiukwuenu, Awa and Ufuma all of which are food baskets of Anambra State.

    The fascination and dream of having good road like other communities in the state have given way for lamentations, agony and pains.

    When The Nation visited some of the communities, there were mixed reactions over the project. The lamentation was more as a result of probable dashed hope on the two bridges; one at Ndi-ubani that connects Awa community and others and the other at Amansea end which they say may hinder free and smooth movement among them. This is because the two bridges are in bad condition.

    Commenting on the issue, Mr. Okezie Awa Nwike, from Awa community in Orumba North Local Government Area, told our correspondent that no single person from their area is happy with the situation.

    “That contract is not ongoing. We are not sure whether the problem is from the contractor or the state government. The situation of the road has worsened.

    “We voted for APGA during the just-concluded elections with the hope of being repaid through the construction of this road. But that dream is dead.

    “We have been gnashing our teeth because the road has been abandoned and we are neglected again. This is unfortunate,” Awa Nwike said.

    However, the President-General of Ndiukwuenu community in Orumba North Local Government Area, Hon. Chidozie Okoli expressed divergent view from Nwike’s, adding that the project is ongoing.

    He told The Nation that the duration to complete the road was 18 months, lamenting that already, 24 months had elapsed without its completion.

    However, he said if the road is completed, it would be a new horizon in the communities as there was no easy means of evacuating their agricultural produce as a result of the dilapidated road.

    He said: “We feel happy because we had been going through lots of difficulties for lack of access road in these areas, but the intervention of the state government has given us a glimmer of hope.

    “But the pace is slow. The expectation of its completion is not being realized. The South African company should be serious on the construction of the road for the communities to heave a sigh of relief.”

    Some of the community leaders such as 78-year-old Chief Michael Nwafor, 75-year-old Andrew Nwankwo and Pa Christopher Okeke were of the same view.

    For the elders in the Ndiukwuenu community, they rolled out their drums to celebrate the award of the contract, but the government is trying to make them regret their actions.

    “All we want our Governor Willie Obiano to do is to look towards the direction of our people because he will lift our spirits with the completion of the road.

    “Nobody had remembered us in this area before now, but since we have entered the book of the government, all we are saying is that the sense of belonging that has been extended to us should be seen to be real,” he said.

    Pa Andrew Nwankwo said: “It will not be good if our governor allows us again to rot in jail, because staying in this area without movement is akin to imprisonment. Therefore, we plead with him to assist us. Let him not abandon us the more.”

    •The cattle market along the road
    •The cattle market along the road

    Though, members of Hausa community who do their cattle business along the Amansea end of the road in Awka North Local Government Area, claim the road is still good, they also believe that the state government should hasten up the project.

    The road traverses the cattle market at Amansea where over 1,000 members of Hausa community live and transact their businesses.

    For the former chairman of cattle sellers in the area, Hayatou Kojeli, the place they occupy now was not carved out by the state government. Rather, by the community.

    He believes that if the road is put in good condition, it would help them explore other areas in the state like Orumba North and South respectively.

    However, he believes that if the state government could relocate the cattle market while the road stays like this, it would not help them in their business.

    Kojeli said: “What we want is a modern market where all the food stuffs such as tomatoes, onions and carrots from the North will be assembled, while people will come to the place to buy them in quantities instead of allowing them to go to the town and spoil the roads the more.”

    Also, the Vice-Chairman of the cattle sellers, Alhaji Ali Hamadama, told our correspondents that the condition of the road is not affecting their businesses.

    He, however, called on the government to fast-track the construction work on the road to help the rural men and women from different communities, adding that the road is not all that bad.