The Anambra State government has appealed to the Federal government for urgent intervention on the failed portion of the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway at the Rogenny axis of Oba, which was recently cut-off by erosion.
Erosion, last week, cut-off one lane of the road, while also threatening the other lane, a development that now leaves residential houses and industries near the affected portion at risk of caving into the massive gully.
The appeal was made by officials of Anambra State government who visited the erosion site on Monday, including Ernest Ezeajughi, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo; Ifeanyi Okoma, Commissioners for Works; Felix Odimegwu, Commissioner for Environment, and the press secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime.
Ezeajughi said there is an urgent need to tackle the erosion site, as movement of goods and persons will be stalled if the other part of the road caves in. He said there are over 1,000 active erosion sites in Anambra State alone.
“We have over 1,000 active erosion sites in Anambra State. This is just one of them. We are acting in an emergency.
“Because this Onitsha-Owerri road by Oba erosion wash-off is a major devastation, we are not waiting any longer, even though it is their responsibility, but the situation calls for FG’s urgent intervention.
Anambra State Government
“Those bearing the hardship are Anambra people. As such, the Anambra State government has embarked on intervention to arrest the situation before other measures,” he said.
On his part, Okoma said: “We are in talks with the federal ministry works and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA)and they are already on it. But it will be a long process.
“We don’t have an option, we moved a contractor that will continue with the second objective, to stop further mudslides.”
The Senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, visited the site last week, and promised to notify the National Assembly on the development, with a view to attracting the attention of the Federal government.
Source: Eyewitnessngr.com
This is terrible.
Please government should be in a hest to attend to this road.