…Cry out for Govt’s Intervention
The entire Owerri Building Material Market Traders, Naze, Imo state have cried over the spate of gully erosion, bad road network and insecurity in the market beckoning on Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma to come to their rescue.
It was gathered that the ugly situation has become the undoing of the market since nearly twenty (20) years of it’s existence. According to reports aside the fact that the 30 feet deep erosion had yanked off some shops in the market with one of the access roads threatened to cut into two ,the bad state of roads have almost brought activities of the market nearly to a halt.
Conducting Newsmen round the market, at the erosion site which was under temporary construction through the effort of the market, the President of Owerri Building Materials Traders Association, Comrade Anthony Okonkwo recounted how
the erosion which began fifteen years ago like child’s play had grown so huge that it has cut off the access road and brought down several shops.
He said, ‘because it was so threatening the executive team had to source for fund to begin the remedial measure which he said has gulped over #40million.
Explaining the issue of insecurity, the President who pointed out that the market had in the past lost wares worth over #50 million to insecurity assuring that with what has been put in place such loss would not re-occur
He further decried the bad state of the road network which he said was affecting commercial activities in the market.
The Present called on Gov. Uzodinma who he described as a people friendly governor to come to their aid.
In his words,” all the roads leading to this market are in bad condition.
The Road from Naze or from Road Safety,Egbu town to the market ,none is motorable and it is
affecting our sales.
“We call on our listening governor in the person of Dist. Senator Hope Uzodinma, to come to our aid.
” During the campaign period I promised my government to check the erosion, secure the market and see that the roads are motorable. I am barely six months old in the office. We have embarked on this erosion control project. I promised integrity in accountability and fairness to all”, he explained.
Speaking ,Engr Timothy
Ubochi, CEO of the Construction Company doing the road said before the construction began they had to fill the washed away soil by the erosion. According to him the ongoing underground drainage which had catch pits would ensure that all the water collected from the market was channelled into the nearby stream.
He added that the construction began three months ago and would be completed in record time, if funds were made available
