By Okoli Sunday :
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo on Sept. 17, flagged off about 62km of roads across the State to mark his six months in office as the Executive Governor of Anambra State.
Among the roads flagged off are the Construction of 26km Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbene-Ugbenu-Awba Ofemili-Umuerum-Omor Road with a bridge, Construction of 27km Amansea-Mamu Forest-Ndiukwuenu-Awa-Ufuma road, Construction of 600m Isuofia-Igboukwu Section of Nnobi-Ekwulobia Federal Road, and the Construction of about 7.7km Roads in Onitsha North Local Government Area.
Addressing the people that came to welcome him at Ebenebe, Awka North LGA, Gov. Soludo assured them of speedy completion of the road. According to Gov. Soludo, my government is opening up areas that have economic values, and Awka North are known for as agrarian communities, the road when completed would help in the easy evacuation of farm produce.
The Governor promised a bridge across Ezu River to connect the road to Ayamelum, which will make it easier for Ndi Ayamelum to access the state capital without stress.
At Ufuma, Orumba North LGA, Gov. Soludo said that the road when completed, the people of Ndiukwuenu, Awa and some part of Awgbu that falls within the state capital can access Awka in about 20mins. He said that the contractor has given 20 years guarantee on the road and that the road will be constructed using cement stabilization and stonebase.
At Isuofia, Gov. Soludo said that the contractor has assured early completion of the project by November, 2022. He said that the project when completed would solve the perennial issues of flooding on the road which is now popularly known as Isu/Igbo River.
He explained that the road will be done in two phases, second of which is to channel the flood water collected in the axis down to Agulu Lake, stressing that the intervention became imperative instead of waiting for the federal government while Ndi Anambra suffer.
Lastly, at Akpaka Estate in Onitsha North LGA, Gov. Soludo expressed displeasure at the indiscriminate erection of buildings in public places. He, however, assured that Onitsha must be great again and that his government started first with cleaning up Onitsha.
The Governor said that the roads to be constructed are strategic, and upon completion, will eliminate traffic jams that commuters experience in that part of the city especially at 33. He said that the contractor has assured that the project will be completed before May 2023 with a 20 years guarantee.
On his part, the state Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma said that the road in Awka North was designed to have 200m stonebase to make it stronger and durable.
Engr. Okoma said that the failed portion of the federal high road at Isuofia, which is about 600m will be asphalted. And that the 1.2 km drainage channels can be able to take in the volume of water on the stretch pending the channeling of the water to a natural stream.
He said that the contractors assured that they will construct durable roads that can last up to 20 years.
Highlights of all the flag off was the unique handing over of the site certificates to all the contractors.
