By Chukwujekwu Ilozue, Reporter, Onitsha

Governor Peter Obi has never hidden his rejection of the status of Upper Iweka section of Onitsha as slush. Obi has always maintained that as the gate way to Anambra State just like gateways in other parts of the country that section of Onitsha ought to be beautified and made befitting of an entry point into the state. In fact, Upper Iweka was one of the beneficiaries of the Great Onitsha Beautification programme the state government launched in 2006 with pomp and pageantry. Then it waged war with goat and vegetable traders hitherto doing business in that part of Onitsha who resisted to be relocated from there. The state also applied for relocated of Federal Urban Mass Transit located at that section of Onitsha too.

What delayed the beautification project for some time actually was the slow pace of work on the reconstruction of the Onitsha/Enugu dual carriage way which has been a source of worry for the government. Last month Governor Obi apparently worried by the slow pace of the contractor handling the federal project said he would seek permission from the presidency to allow the state to handle that part of the express way because government perceived the condition of  Upper Iweka road as rubbishing its efforts at changing the face of the area.

Among other plans, the state had to wall off part of the area and put street lights from kilometer 0-3 (Bridge head to Upper Iweka) Onitsha as well as the Onitsha – Owerri Road land-fill site. As work progressed, the state government gave a final warning  to traders occupying illegally built structures along the outer lane of the area to quit as it commenced beautification of the area. The essence of the beautification is to complement the on going reconstruction work on the road as promised much earlier by Governor Peter Obi. All illegal occupants of the service lane and road shoulders it warned must relocate immediately. That was in January, 2012.

Such illegal occupants it said are especially those who have been allocated alternative locations like the goat sellers, heavy lorry park users and traders among others. It said their continued stay there amounts to obstruction of the beautification exercise.

Before then the state deputy governor, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu, had issued a sustained radio and television announcements warning occupants of the service lane referred to, to vacate those sites because according to the announcements the state government takes the beautification of the Bridge Head-Upper Iweka roundabout and environs very seriously since it is the main gateway into the state.  It warned that it would stop at nothing in bringing defaulters of this directive to order.

Source:http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/06/lessons-from-upper-iweka-demolitions-1/

( PIC )AERIAL VIEW FROM THE FLYOVER SHOWING THE FENCED AREA OF UPPER IWEKA AXIS OF ONITSHA, ANAMBRA, AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF BEAUTIFICATION OF THE TOWN

The work and asphalting of Upper Iweka axis has gone beyond what is shown on the picture, this is def. as old as 7months old pix. The entire stretch/corridor been covered with another layer of asphalt and grass/flowers being planted on the open areas as at last week I passed Emeka Ojukwu Way.

Chino48: The work and asphalting of Upper Iweka axis has gone beyond what is shown on the picture, this is def. as old as 7months old pix. The entire stretch/corridor been covered with another layer of asphalt and grass/flowers being planted on the open areas as at last week I passed Emeka Ojukwu Way.

I agree with you, Chino as I happened to pass through Onitcha 2weeks ago. Peter Obi has done an amazing job from Limca Roundabout up to the Bridgehead. If you have access to pictures, kindly post them.

Chino,shebi you dey Anambra ? Why can't you post some pictures.

Odenigbo Aroli: Chino,shebi you dey Anambra ? Why can't you post some pictures.

NO BE YOU BE CHINO

mike404: NO BE YOU BE CHINO

Odenigbo Aroli: Chino,shebi you dey Anambra ? Why can't you post some pictures.

Am in Awka now, will be in Onitsha next weekend for shopping. Will do that then..dalu nwanne.

This one is beautification??

Hmmmmm! Onitsha!!

They need a pedestrian bridge at that upper Iweka. Too many people die crossing the busy highway.

It takes months -if not years- for any little progress to be made in that state! I remember it was last year we were hearing of moves by Obi to sanitise the Upper Iweka/Bridge Head area, and months after we're yet to see any appreciable results.

Also, could someone help me tell the Governor to ensure the area is 'greened up' as well......with well spaced trees planted, and well-trimmed grasses planted were necessary.

IGBO-SON:
It takes months -if not years- for any little progress to be made in that state! I remember it was last year we were hearing of moves by Obi to sanitise the Upper Iweka/Bridge Head area, and months after we're yet to see any appreciable results.

Also, could someone help me tell the Governor to ensure the area is 'greened up' as well......with well spaced trees planted, and well-trimmed grasses planted were necessary.

It is called planning..

Obi plans months in ahead for any project he is to execute. He is very consistent with all his programmes and projects. The 5 star hotel, Shoprite and ICC in Onitsha, even the Agulu Lake Hotel Resort-Awka were all planned about 3years ago but today they are all standing. If you do not plan, you plan to fail.

Obi is not a regular Nigerian governor who wakes up one morning and start doing something he never planned for. Such projects are usually abandoned because there is no fund ab-initio to implement it. The picture the Op, post is about 7 months ago, the level of work has gone far.

Obi is not focusing on comestics activities on the state capitals like most governor does. He is spreading development all over, making every part of Anambra habitable and comfortable unlike most part of SE. Anambra is a state where somebody will live in Agulu and even Ekwuluobia and goes to work in Awka; another will be living in Oba or Nsugbe and goes to work every day in Onitsha.

This is due to wide development in the state, every corner of the state has basic infrastructure as assess roads, health centers, electricity, etc, such things as this are still dream in most of SE areas. That is why Anambra is presently achieving MDG which was recently confirmed by the world bank.

Na red sand dem take dey do d beautification? Nawa ooo, d beauty is lyk a village. Cnt evn compare it wt d beauty of any city in nigeria, shw us recent pix of dat pls.

Na red sand dem take dey do d beautification? Nawa ooo, d beauty is lyk a village. Cnt evn compare it wt d beauty of any city in nigeria, shw us recent pix of dat pls.

Brother, a picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. One picture would speak much more than your treatise. Post pictures if you have them.

VAQAXY:


It is called planning..

Obi plans months in ahead for any project he is to execute. He is very consistent with all his programmes and projects. The 5 star hotel, Shoprite and ICC in Onitsha, even the Agulu Lake Hotel Resort-Awka were all planned about 3years ago but today they are all standing. If you do not plan, you plan to fail.

Obi is not a regular Nigerian governor who wakes up one morning and start doing something he never planned for. Such projects are usually abandoned because there is no fund ab-initio to implement it. The picture the Op, post is about 7 months ago, the level of work has gone far.

Obi is not focusing on comestics activities on the state capitals like most governor does. He is spreading development all over, making every part of Anambra habitable and comfortable unlike most part of SE. Anambra is a state where somebody will live in Agulu and even Ekwuluobia and goes to work in Awka; another will be living in Oba or Nsugbe and goes to work every day in Onitsha.

This is due to wide development in the state, every corner of the state has basic infrastructure as assess roads, health centers, electricity, etc, such things as this are still dream in most of SE areas. That is why Anambra is presently achieving MDG which was recently confirmed by the world bank.