The Federal lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Sam Onuigbo has appealed to the federal government to rehabilitate the failed portions of Ikwuano-Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road.
The lawmaker made the appeal yesterday when he led a delegatation from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing, to confirm the design of the dualization of the Ikwuano-Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal road submitted by the consultant and visited all the failed portions of the road.
“The first phase of the project will start from Abia Tower, and terminate at Amawom Oboro, in Ikwuano LGA. There are series of failed sections between Ariam-Okwe, which will not be captured in the first phase.”
“It is, therefore, important that the federal government comes to the rescue of the people by rehabilitating those failed sections before the commencement of the second phase of the job and perhaps concurrently with works on the first phase. ”
Onuigbo stressed the importance of the road as it links several states such as Cross river, Akwa Ibom, and some parts of Rivers state, with Abia. He stated that the road has collapsed again hence the need to begin with total reconstruction.
He pointed out that the road is a major economic access point for the country as crude products and other important economic products are conveyed through it.
“This is extremely important as that road is a major economic access point for the country as crude oil products and other important economic products are conveyed through it. This is why the collapse of the road (which we did palliative works on in 2017) has brought economic activities to a halt. ”
The Federal lawmaker noted that lives have been lost, goods destroyed as a result of several failed portions of the road.
He thanked the Minister of Power, Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, for his consistent display of love and support in ensuring working on our road networks is a priority.
Also speaking, the leader of the delegation from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr Emmanuel Adama said his delegation took note of the areas not captured in the first phase that would need urgent palliative works.
The Chairman, Ikwuano Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Ugochukwu Ejirika, said the people of Ikwuano were pleasantly surprised that the project was becoming a reality.
Eze Ejirika said the people were aware of the sacrifices they have to make to ensure the smooth take-off of the project and would cooperate with the relevant authority to achieve success.
