Members of Abia State House of Assembly undertook an unscheduled tour of areas in Aba where construction works are ongoing. SUNNY NWANKWO reports that the lawmakers embarked on the tour to have firsthand information about the quality of job done by contractors.
When Okezie Victor Ikpeazu assumed office as the Governor of Abia State, he promised to construct roads where there are none and rehabilitate delapidated ones. He kept his promise by awarding contracts for the construction of various roads in Aba and other parts of the state.
To effect this, he had approached the State House of Assembly to approve N10 billion outside the N14.152 billion bailout fund from the Federal Government to states to enable him to fix the bad roads. The House approved the governor’s request because, according to it, the fund would enhance the state of infrastructure across the three senatorial districts namely Abia North, Abia South and Abia Central respectively.
However, to ensure that the fund was judiciously used for the purpose it was meant, the state lawmakers, led by their Speaker, Martins Azubuike paid an unscheduled visit to some of the road construction sites in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State in order to have firsthand information and assess the level of work done by the contractors handling the projects.
Some of the project sites visited were Owerri Road off Okigwe Road, Weeks Street off Asa Road, Obikabia-Umuola Road and Umuola-Ukaegbu-Opobo Junction, among others.
The contractors handling the various projects assured the state government and residents that they would complete most ongoing construction works this month.
They said the deadline was achievable if they could get the necessary support and assistance from government and residents living around the sites.
One of the contractors, Mr. Jack Mallous of Mallous Nigeria Limited who spoke at his construction site said they were using the cement technology to replicate what is obtainable in the United States. He added that the jobs, when completed, would last more than 20 years going by the quality of materials used.
Another contractor, Mr. Mba of Mc Caumsons Construction Company revealed that the roads, when completed, would have side walks for pedestrian and streetlights on both sides of the road. He stated that the roads, when completed, would solve the problem of gridlock that is usually witnessed on major roads in the city.
Responding, Hon. Azubuike commended Governor Ikpeazu for his efforts in rehabilitating roads in Aba and using the new cement technology which he said would ensure that the roads last longer.
Hon. Azubuike noted that the construction of roads in Aba and other parts of the state was in fulfilment of Governor Ikpeazu’s promises to the people during his electioneering campaigns. He adding that the governor’s commitment to solving infrastructural problems in Abia was a clear manifestation that the Governor has the interest of the people at heart.
Describing Aba as the hub of commercial activities in Abia State in particular and the Southeast in general, the Speaker said the commercial town deserved nothing less, promising that before the tenure of the present administration elapses, an appreciable impact would have been made in the area of road construction and rehabilitation.
He said it is government’s plan that all reconstructed roads must have good drainage system, work ways and streetlights. He urged the contractors to ensure that government’s dream came through by delivering the jobs according to specifications and on time too.
He appealed to residents to cooperate with the contractors in order to meet their deadline by ensuring that they avoided anything that would impede the speed at which the contractors were executing the projects. He assured the contractors of the legislators’ support.
Some of the residents who spoke at Weeks Road and other parts of the city commended the gesture, stating that this was the first time any government in the state was showing commitment towards delivering quality road.
However, some residents lamented the snail pace of work by some of the contractors. They called on members of the House to make their visit regular. This, they said, would put the contractors be serious in the execution of the jobs as well as make them deliver the jobs as scheduled. They pleaded with the lawmakers to provide them with the necessary funds to make them work proficiently.
Meanwhile, Governor Ikpeazu has said he is steadfast in his promise to deliver dividends of democracy in the area of infrastructural development in order to boost the economy of the state.
Ikpeazu, who stated this while inspecting ongoing projects in Aba, urged the contractors to ensure they delivered quality jobs with good drainage systems which would stand the test of time. He stressed that with the cement pavement technology used in constructing the roads, they would outlive his administration.
While inspecting ongoing road projects at Ehere, Echefu, Umuola, Emelogu and Kamalu roads, the Governor revealed that work would soon begin on the dilapidated portion on St. Michaels, Hospital and Jubilee roads and Old Court Road.
He said: “The over-riding import is service; we are desperate to provide service for the people of Abia State. We will continue to do it as the funds are available. It is better we die serving Abia people. So, what are we keeping the money for? If money is available, we will use it to serve the people.
“Funding is not a barrier. The prayers of the people of Abia State will find the funds for us to do what we want to do. We are in government to serve the people. Remember that I said I was going to be common governor for the common people.
“We have been working from day one, but you can agree with me that we have more rains than we had in the years past. After the first 100 days, we have completed part of these roads. As at that time, we found it difficult to continue to operate at that speed because the rains were coming in torrents. But with this window of dry season, our ambition is to make sure that out of the 45 roads we are doing in Abia, we intend to be home and dry with between 15 and 20 roads; God helping us.”
Continuing, he said: “We are pioneering the cement pavement technology around this part of Nigeria. Our desire to do this is informed by the fact that we need to do roads that will last at least 20 years. I am satisfied with the materials they are using to reinforce the concrete before asphalting.
Cement pavement technology will be the minimum standard of roads we are going to construct. As far as our resources can take us, we will try to do that.
