The Enugu State government has approved funds to fix roads in the state, saying it plans to work on 1,250 kilometres of roads in the next one year. The roads will be rehabilitated, reconstructed and expanded.
The Information and Communication Commissioner, Aka Eze Aka, spoke to journalists after the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Enugu, on Friday evening. He said the road works were delayed by the rains, because roads built during the rainy season do not last long. He said the state government wanted to build roads that would last for up to 30 years.
He was joined by the Commissioners for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Uramah; Works and Infrastructure, Engr Gerald Otiji; and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh. He apologized to the people of the state for the hardship they were facing because of the bad roads, and asked them to be patient as work would start soon.
The Works and Infrastructure Commissioner, Engr Gerald Otiji gave more details on the Council’s decisions. He said 71 urban roads and 10 rural roads would be fixed in the first phase, and work would start in a few days or weeks.
He said: "The Executive Council today approved the release of funds for us to start work. We are sorry for the problems our people are going through because of the potholes on our roads. You know that when we announced the 81 roads for repairs and reconstruction, the rains did not stop.
"You also know that water is the worst enemy of asphalt. We have been monitoring the situation with metrological instruments to know when to start work.
"I want to also tell you that the governor knows what our people are going through. He personally joined us in inspecting all the streets for repairs in Enugu city.
"We went to Emene, Abakpa market, Trans Ekulu, Iva Valley, Coal Camp, Idaw River, Awkunanaw, Achara Layout, Uwani, Kenyatta, Zik Avenue, Ogui Road, New Layout, Premier Layout/Goshen area, the New Enugu area, New Heaven and Independence Layout.
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“In all these areas, we have identified the main problems, and we will start repairing and reconstructing them soon. We will follow due process in doing so. The work on most of them will go on at the same time.”
Engr Otiji also said some important rural and inter-local government roads were selected to cover the three senatorial zones of the state. He said more roads would be included in next year’s budget.
He mentioned some of the roads as: Owo – Ubahu – Amankanu – Neke – Ikem road (dual carriageway) to connect Obollo Afor without passing through Enugu city; Abakpa Nike – Ugwuogo Nike – Opi road (dualization); Amechi Idodo – Amagunze road (single carriageway with two bridges) to link Nkanu East LGA by road for the first time; Ama brewery junction – Eke – Akama Oghe – Iwollo – Umulokpa road linking Uzo Uwani LGA with a spur to Aguobu Owa in Ezeagu LGA; and Akwuke Road in Enugu South LGA from Police Station through Gariki to mass housing project site.
He also said Abakaliki road from airport flyover to Ebonyi State border would be dualized with federal government’s support. He said the state government had discussed with Works Minister Engr Dave Umahi on how to speed up work on Enugu end of Enugu-Onitsha expressway.
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