Recently, a part of the Oba axis on the Onitsha-Owerri Highway was washed off following a landslide that occurred during a heavy rainfall. That road has gave way to a huge gully erosion that exposes road users and residents to untold hardship.
The Onitsha-Owerri road has begged for attention for many years. Being a major road that connects South East’s trading and industrial hub, Onitsha, to other South-East states such as Imo and Abia States and other South-South States, the road is of great major economic importance to, not just Anambra state but, Nigeria. Regrettably, the last rehabilitation attempt on the road was in 2002, when it was awarded by the federal government to Consolidated Construction Company (CCC). Nevertheless, that was of no great impact as different parts of the roads has continued to fail in the ensuing twenty-one years.
Thus, this landslide on the Oba axis of the road could be the final nail in the coffin and the last wake-up call on the need for quick intervention for the reconstruction of that all important dual carriage way. It is, therefore, expedient that the administration of President Bola Tinubu heeds the call and come to the rescue of the road. In the interim, much appreciation must go out to the Anambra State Government under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo for taking urgent remedial actions to check the progression of the erosion.
Roads and good road networks are strategic to boosting the economy of any society. More so, a strategic road like the Onitsha-Owerri road. The construction of the road will greatly contribute to fulfilling the purpose of the second Niger Bridge and it’s interchange. It will ease traffics and pressure on feeder roads and facilitate easy access to into Owerri, Aba, Port Harcourt, Calabar and others.
The reconstruction of the road will help to ensure timely delivery of goods and services and thereby lead to increased economic activity. Good roads reduce the cost of transportation and reduce the time taken to transport goods and people. Additionally, it can attract new businesses to the area which will in turn create more employment opportunities and boost the local economy.
As this call goes out for the reconstruction of Onitsha-Owerri road but most importantly for an intervention on the deep gully that has cut off one part of the dual carriage road on the Oba axis of the road, we must, as a Nation give a serious thought to our maintenance culture. Most of the roads that have failed in the country especially the “Trunk A” or (what we have come to know as the) Federal roads are just victims of poor or non-existent maintenance culture. In fact, it is safe to say that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA is overwhelmed. It is important that as these roads are reconstructed, there should be considerable allocations and budgets for road maintenance. Investing hugely in both human and material resources in this area will greatly save the country of huge resources and to sustain the life span of some of these roads.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should write his name in history by showing true Federal might in the quick reconstruction of the Onitsha-Owerri road. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
Written by EJIKE ABANA
Comments are closed for this post.