“Work ongoing on Owerri-Umuahia, Ihiagwa-Obinze roads.”
..Says: Imo govt to do 5km roads in 27 LGAs
By Ebenezer Ojor
The Commissioner for Works, Imo State, Chief Ralph Nwosu has revealed that the state government would not rest on its oars in ensuring that the all road projects being executed currently were completed.
This is even as the commissioner disclosed that the administration of Governor Hope Uzodinma made several representations to the federal government to assist in the on-going remedial work on the Umuchima ecological disaster along the Orlu-Akokwa road.
The Imo Works Commissioner who briefed newsmen in Owerri, Friday, further disclosed the Uzodinma administration remained committed to its resolve to complete atleast, five kilometers of roads in each of the 27 local government areas of the state.
Commissioner Nwosu said the Uzodinma administration had awarded contract for Orlu-Akokwa road up to the boundary with Anambra State at Uga, the same time contract on the Owerri-Mbaise road was awarded, adding that ecological disaster cut the road into two, prompting the state government to make several submissions to Abuja to come and assist.
Nwosu hinted that the Uzodinma administration has fully completed the Orji-Egbu (Toronto) section of the Owerri outer ring road which he said, was abandoned by previous administrations, and installed streetlights. While work on the construction of a bridge on the Ihiagwa-Obinze road was ongoing.
He hinted that the Imo State Government ensured that the contractors handling the Ihiagwa-Obinze road redesigned the road to create outlet for the drainages to discharge water into the Otammiri River so as to prevent a situation where flooding could collapse the road shortly after construction. He assured that the quality of work on the ongoing road projects would make the roads durable on completion.
On the ongoing overhead bridge at the popular Control Post, Assumpta Catheral Roundabout Owerri, the commissioner noted that work has reached advanced stage. He said the Avu-Obosima-Adapalm road was being prioritised by the Uzodinma administration which he said, targets to complete seven kilometers in the first phase of the project.
The Imo Works Commissioner therefore called on the people of the oil-producing communities of Ohaji/Egbema to remain patient.
Other areas where the commissioner assured of the state government intervention include, the Mbaa River ecological site at Amaraku which said his ministry was seeking collaboration with the Ministry of Environment; the Umunyeali Industrial Market –Akwakuma erosion menace which he said, has already got a mention at the State Exective Council, among others.
Meanwhile Commissioner Nwosu has raised the alarm over he described as the incessant vandalisation of infrastructure including road and street lights installed by the administration of Governor Uzodinma. He called for citizens’ vigilance to ensure protection of such facilities.
Nwosu equally charged the media in Imo State on accurate reporting of state government’s projects and activities.