•••Says We Have Spent N1 Billion on Federal Roads
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra State has said that most Federal Government roads in the state are death traps.
Soludo stated this while flagging -off the road construction of Ogidi flood section of Awka-Onitsha old road at the weekend.
He gave assurances of rehabilitating failed federal roads and constructing new ones in the state to alleviate the suffering of the people.
He said, ” Most Federal roads in the state are in life threatening horrifying situation; while constructing new roads, we shall continue to rehabilitate failed ones as they wait for the Federal Government to intervene in the long term issues.
“We’ve intervened severally and it is costing us close to a billion naira. We have called on the federal government to come to our aid through the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, but we are not going to just wait.
“Those on the longer term issues, we may wait for the federal government. But this one is emergency intervention because of hardship encountered by motorists.
“We will flag off many roads all around Anambra state. Anambra will be better for it because we have all agreed that the Solution is here.”
He directed the contractor handling the Ogidi project not to allow it to exceed three months, adding that through a few savings by his government, the state government had been able to do the federal road at Isuigbo on the boundary between Enugu and Anambra; fixed the portion opposite Chisco park, promising to continue making such emergency interventions.
Commenting on the security situation in the state , Soludo said, “I am calling on the good people of Ogidi not to habour any criminal in their communities.
“If you see something, say something. We are determined to wipe out all forms of criminalities not only in Ogidi but in the entire Anambra State. We must work together to rescue our dear state.”
The state Commissioner for Works and infrastructure development ,Ifeanyi Okoma, said Soludo was fully committed in providing good roads in the State, emphasising that the Ogidi road construction was the first project being embarked upon by the governor after his Inauguration in March.
Okoma said,”The perennial flood experienced in this axis is not perculiar to Ogidi. Vehicles that pass through this place experience hardships. As a federal government road, the Governor could just have looked the other way and ignored it and keep waiting for the Federal Government, but he didn’t do that because the comfort of Ndi Anambra remains a priority to him.”
The member representing Idemili North at the State House of Assembly, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Chiekwu and the Traditional Ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alex Onyido appreciated the governor for coming to their rescue.
According to them, the flood has adversely affected the community and environs, adding that the people of Ogidi would remain grateful to the “solution governor” for his headlong approach in solving the perennial issue.
