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the Road Situation In Abia State by jona2: 1:50am On Dec 16, 2009
[b]The road situation in Abia State
By Iyke Ogbonnaya
Wednesday, December 16, 2009


Aba in Abia State
Photo: Sun News Publishing 
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As a stake holder and keen observer in what obtains in Abia State, I have chosen not to concern my self or lose sleep over the activities of apostles of darkness who delights in feeding fat from fanning the embers of discord in the State.

Some Political jobbers have chosen to walk the path of dishonour and character assassination, so long as it will put food on their table. That is why the recent vituperations come shameful media outing of the defeated PDP gubernatorial candidate in Abia State; Onyema Ugochukwu will amount to nothing to those who are in constant possession of armoury of mud that chronicled his catastrophic stint at Niger Delta Development Commission.

Our people say that ‘ the ability of any man to make good use of the little in his possession, is the yard stick for measuring his ability to make better use of bigger responsibilities.’ If Onyema Ugochukwu could not impact the lives of Abians, when he held brief as the N.D.D.C. Chairman, other than a road that passed through his home town, your guess will be as good as mine, as to what will become of Abia State, if he had made it to government house Umuahia.
Abians would have been provided with alcohol in place of water and cigarette to light up their spirit in place of electricity.

I have also chosen not to give a hoot about the recent aspersions on the PPA led government of Governor T.A.Orji, boldly promoted by Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District. Its unfortunate and rather disgraceful, to observe that when Representatives from other States are working in synergy with one another (not minding Party Leanings) to better the lots of their respective Federal Constituencies and Senatorial Districts, the only reward accruing to Abians from some of our Representatives are divisions, rancour, hatred and bitterness occasioned by Political cleavages and loyalty similar to what obtains in rival secret cults.

If the interest of Abia State is in the priority of PDP National Chairman Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, will the Federal Minister for Works ignore or disregard same by refusing to visit Abia, when he visited a sister State, Imo? Why must the interest and welfare of the people be sacrificed at the altar of Political interest and membership? Mouthpiece of the Federal Government, Dora Akunyili made us believe that contracts for some strategic Federal roads in the State viz: Aba -Owerri Road have been awarded but as I script this piece contractors are yet to be mobilized to site. But even when the Governor came to the peoples rescue by mobilizing Zerock Construction to site, Federal Government is not blinking an eyelid, in making sure the financial implications are defrayed.

At the Governors concern and intervention, JPross Construction Company has invaded Aba Port Harcourt Road and yet we have Federal and Senatorial Representatives, who could put in a word for the interest of the State they are supposed to be representing.

Abians will recall the Governor assuring at different times and fora that normal work will resume at all the road construction sites going on in the State. I personally verified and considered it appropriate to bring to public domain, the veracity of the Governors Executive pronouncements.

But as earlier on somewhere highlighted am, not going to dissipate energy joining issues with political moles who should bury their heads in shame for wanting to crumble a political empire {P.P.A.} which emerged in an incredible manner and for which Nigerians are yet to overcome the shock of its unprecedented performance.

Let me at this juncture; crave your indulgence to embark on a comprehensive analysis of the road situation in Abia State:

FEDERAL ROADS
Our point of departure in this instance will begin from the well-known Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway. Not only that this road has been in a terrible state of disrepair, the deadliest of the failed sections are mostly within Abia territory. These include but not limited to Ishiagu { Enugu} and Umuchieze junction, Okigwe { Imo} and Ofeme junction, Ubakala and Ntigha junction. The nightmare continued from Osisioma to Obehie junction and terminating between Obuaku City and Imo River Bridge. The poser which is yet to be properly addressed, is why the only noticeable repairs so far carried out on that road, began and stopped within the Enugu axis, while the Abia end are nothing short of death traps.

Same is the case with Aba-Ikot Ekpene road. Three major failed sections of that Federal road are giving motorist the trouble of their lives, while many are not even alive to tell the story. Except for the recent and praise worthy intervention of Governor T.A. Orji, Abians’ residing towards Akwa- Ibom boarder would have been forced to flee their homes located within another Federal road in the State: Umuahia- Umudike-Ariam-Akwa Ibom road. Apart from its being in a deplorable condition, Federal Government did not see anything wrong in not providing for its repairs in the 2009 appropriation bill.
2009 is winding up, and yet nothing has been done in the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia Federal Roads which the Federal Government claimed was provided for in 2009 Appropriation Bill.

May be the failed-portions covering over 46kilometres would be repaired when all the users are consumed. What do we then say about another very important Federal Road: Ohafia-Arochukwu Road? It is nothing short of a war torn area, leaving motorists to ply mostly on red earth as a result of washed off asphalt

It is pertinent for us to know of other Federal Roads in the State where the inhabitants do not even know if the acronym; Federal Government is in existence: Aba-Azumini, Olokoro-Ahiaukwu-Itaja Okwu-Obohia-Ikwuano Roads and Ikot Ekpene-Arochukwu-Ikot Okpra-Ikom Road. Natives of these towns, who grew up to discover they are from these places have since accepted their fate, since they cannot fight God for locating them there.

A critical issue that has remained irreconcilable is Federal Government’s continuous and despicable attitude of laying claim over these essential vehicles of human life and yet would be brazenly callous not to live up to their responsibilities. Even when Abia State has risen up to the occasion Federal Government would continue to behave as if there is a competition going on. The people who are quick to embark on a misguided criticism of the State Government, cares little or nothing about these important variables, or if you like under whose jurisdiction the roads fall. And the fact that Federal Government is never forthcoming when there are refunds to honour. Governor T. A. Orji has continuously taken the federal government cold-shoulder by his stride.

This is evidently manifested in his desire to ensure the adequate provision of democratic dividends to the people. The federal government abdication of their responsibilities has left the state with the onerous task of channelling billions of scarce resources into the construction and resuscitation of federal roads in the State. These have led to the pleasant scenario of having Zerock Construction Company build and complete the express-junction –Ossah-Ibiam Road in Umuahia. With the rain having subsided, New Idea Construction Company has been mobilised to site for effective construction and dualization of the Federal Road cutting across Umuahia and Ubakala Town. Readers would recall my earlier hint that Zerock Construction Company Limited is expertly undertaking repairs of the federal roads covering Abayi-Aba-Ohabiam Towns.

Even as the Federal Road linking Aba-Port Harcourt has since been invaded by J.Pros Construction Limited. I am also aware that the strategic importance of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road has been the yardstick for its constant maintenance through the pouring of several tippers of granites and hard cores.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/freekick/2009/dec/16/freekick-16-12-2009-001.htm
•Iyke Ogbonnaya wrote in from Umuahia[/b]

Re: the Road Situation In Abia State by SEFAGO(m): 2:07am On Dec 16, 2009
The roads in lagos are worse

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