Governor Obiano

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra has called on the Federal Government to save the Onitsha/Enugu Express Road and Onitsha/Owerri Expressway from imminent collapse due to erosion menace.

Obiano made the call while inspecting the erosion sites along the Onitsha and Owerri Expressways on Saturday.

The Onitsha-Enugu road has caved-in at the foot of the fly-over at the New parts Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state while erosion has cut-off one lane at two points at Okija-Ihiala axis of Onitsha-Owerri road.

Obiano said erosion posed danger to human lives and business activities in the area.

He said he had made contact with the Presidency after inspecting the site recently.

He said he had mandated IDC Construction Company to mobilise to site and start palliative works to save the road.

He reiterated that the Federal Government owed the state N25billion accruing from construction of federal roads in the state.

“This is the reason why we must get permission from the Federal Government before embarking on palliatives on the eroded site.

“It is very clear from the gravity of the erosion that the state alone cannot handle the project with its meagre resources because it will run into billions of naira’’, Obiano said.

The governor, however, advised Anambra people to bear with the state while it persuades the Federal Government to come to its aid and save the people from danger posed by the bad roads.

Obiano expressed worry that the bad spots along Okija-Ihiala axis of the Onitsha-Owerri expressway would definitely create traffic bottleneck for commuters during Christmas.

The governor added that the gridlock it would cause during the yuletide would be tick due to the use of single lane by all vehicles.

He said that apart from the wear and tear from excess luggage which threatens the life span of the road, it also posed great risk to travellers.