- Anambra roads in deplorable condition
- Motorists, residents blame lack of maintenance culture, appeal to government for help
- Anambra state government reinstates commitment towards renovation of roads in the state, pleads with residents to be patient
This is indeed not the best for motorists in some parts of Anambra state as many of the roads in the area have collapsed and literally become deathtraps for the users.
The Uga junction road which links the community with the popular Head bridge and Iweka road Onitsha has been in sorry state for over three years with both the motorists and other road users in anguish each time they have to ply the road.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered some of these have been built by the past administrations in the state but lack of maintenance culture on these roads, have dilapidated and become a nightmare for the users.
However, travelling from Uga community to Igboukwu or other neighbouring community in the state is like making a journey into hell.
Situated in Aguata local government area of the state, the community is said to have been literally cut off from other communities as a result of the worsening condition of the roads, especially at Uga junction/Head bridge.
In a chat with Charles Ezenekwe told WITHIN NIGERIA that it is now becoming so much unbearable to ply the road especially during rainy season.
Mr. Ezenekwe, a shop keeper at the junction narrated that the road has become a nightmare for the motorists.
“This year, we thought the road will be repaired after what we passed through last year because of the deplorable condition of the road.
” But unfortunately, the situation has become worse as the road has continued to deteriorate as the days go by.”
Explaining he narrated that ” on Saturday, after a heavy down pour, a trailer laden with bags of cement fell inside the flood at the bad spot of the road, destroying over a hundred bags and the trailer at the same time.”
Another resident of the area, Mr. Paul Anekwe told our reporter that commercial motorists now charge exorbitant fare to ply the road.
According to Mr. Anekwe, ” though the road is federal road, the residents suffer a lot to ply the road. At the moment, motorists don’t option than to hike their fare as a result of the deplorable condition of the road. Many commercial bus drivers have even changed their route because of the bad condition of the road.”
Appealing to the government, he said ” we need the help of both state and federal government so as to give this road a facelift. We know the state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo can do it. We therefore, implore him to come to our aid and repair this road.”
At Anambra East, the story has also remained the same as the deplorable state of the road has continued to spread sorrows and pains in the area.
Residents of the Anambra East and its environs have lamented the poor condition of Umungalagu -Oyeagu road attributing low business transactions in the popular Otuocha market to the state of the road.
WITHIN NIGERIA reporter who sampled the opinions of some residents on Sunday in Otuocha Aguleri, reported that some residents interviewed said that the bad spot have contributed to the high cost of transport fares in Otuocha market and its environs.
One of the residents, Dr. Innocent Okonkwo told our reporter that “the Otuocha Oyeagu-Otuocha road which was constructed by the former Governor Chris Ngige is lacking maintenance and as a result, some bad spots have negatively affected the transportation of food from the market which is regarded as the food basket of Anambra state.”
According to Dr. Okonkwo, “Otuocha Aguleri is the home of the former Governor of the state, Chief Willy Obiano. We appeal to the government to expedite action towards making sure that the road is repaired.”
However, in his recent address, the state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo assured people of the state of provision of basic infrastructures like good road network and pipe borne water.
Governor Soludo while inaugurating the 12 kilometers of roads in Okpoko roads, in Ogbaru Local Government Area, promised that his administration will build more roads to create accessible road network in the state.
Addressing the people, Governor Soludo recalled with nostalgia the historical significance of the Okpoko road, with about half a million people deprived of basic facilities such as pipe-borne water, street lights, General Hospital, among others.
Expressing concern about the situation, the Governor maintained that the area constitutes the major urban regeneration agenda of his administration and had been hampered and devastated by perennial flood.
Governor Soludo stressed that his administration would not relent in providing the needed infrastructure facilities such as pipe-borne water, street lights, good road network to the area.
He observed that Okpoko was the first place he visited immediately after his inauguration, pointing out that people used to spend hours moving by the Obodoukwu road due to its deplorable condition as it had adversely affected commercial activities in the area.
Governor Soludo described the area as one of the largest urban slums in the South East, expressing optimism that the road would stimulate the economy and improve the life of the people of the area.
The governor further hinted that the Atani -Ozubulu road which is ongoing would soon be completed just as he sent a strong warning to the contractor handling the Ogwuikpelle road to expedite work or risk his contract been terminated.
He advised the Anambra people to have patience as road construction is ongoing process and will reach every community in the state.