Onitsha – Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has called on the
Federal Government to save the Onitsha/Enugu Express
Road and Onitsha/Owerri Expressway from imminent
collapse due to erosion menace.
Obiano made the call while inspecting the erosion sites
along the Onitsha and Owerri Expressways on Saturday.
The Onitsha-Enugu road has caved-in at the foot of the fly-
over at the New parts Nkpor, Idemili North Local
Government Area of the state while erosion has cut-off
one lane at two points at Okija-Ihiala axis of Onitsha-
Owerri road.
Obiano said erosion posed danger to human lives and
business activities in the area.
He said he had made contact with the Presidency after
inspecting the site recently.
He said he had mandated IDC Construction Company to
mobilise to site and start palliative works to save the road.
He reiterated that the Federal Government owed the state
N25billion accruing from construction of federal roads in
the state.
“This is the reason why we must get permission from the
Federal Government before embarking on palliatives on
the eroded site.
“It is very clear from the gravity of the erosion that the
state alone cannot handle the project with its meagre
resources because it will run into billions of naira’’,
Obiano said.
The governor, however, advised Anambra people to bear
with the state while it persuades the Federal Government
to come to its aid and save the people from danger posed
by the bad roads.
Obiano expressed worry that the bad spots along Okija-
Ihiala axis of the Onitsha-Owerri expressway would
definitely create traffic bottleneck for commuters during
Christmas.
The governor added that the gridlock it would cause
during the yuletide would be tick due to the use of single
lane by all vehicles.
He said that apart from the wear and tear from excess
luggage which threatens the life span of the road, it also
posed great risk to travellers.
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