Okonkwo Samuel
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who has been having sleepless nights over the deplorable State of the federal roads in the State, had sent a delegation, Led by the Abia state focal person on social investment programme, Mr. Chinenye Nwaogu to the State House in Abuja, not on events surrounding the social investment programmes, but on issues that bothers on the deplorable State of some of the federal Roads in the State, in his capacity as the Abia State coordinator of Ease of Doing Business, with particular emphasis on the Aba Axis of the Enugu–Porthacourt road.
Under the Administration of Gov. Ikpeazu, Mr. Nwaogu isn’t new to this type of assignment and emissary, as every father knows the capacity and capability of his children, hence his Choice of Mr. Nwaogu on some of these crucial State assignments.
With the blessings of the State Governor, Mr. Nwaogu and other members of the delegation, comprising members of Aba Chamber of Commerce, led by Chief Jerry Kalu B.sc Mpa Fnism, met with the Vice president of the federal republic of Nigeria, ably represented by the Special Adviser to the President/ Secretary Presidential Business Enabling council, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, demanding for the commencement and speedy completion of the aforementioned federal roads in the State, with particular emphasis and concern on the SUKUKU IV section iii being Uratta junction to Imo bridge.
As one Igbo adage succinctly captures it, “A boy whose father sends to steal, would certainly break the door with his leg”.
The delegation through Mr. Nwaogu had explained that Aba sits at the epicenter of the South-South and South-East regions of the country and has become the Center of trade and commerce, with customers coming from all over the country and beyond to buy and sell their goods and products, adding that the commercial city receives well over 200 long haulage trucks daily for evacuation/ discharge of goods, with over 10,000 importers and exporters whose businesses have been adversely affected by the impassable nature of the said road.
Those who are at home with that portion of the road would agree with me that it has become a death trap, occasioned by the incessant road mishaps owing to its deplorable condition which has resulted to numerous, but avoidable loss of precious lives and man-hour, that has almost led to the near closure of the popular Aba Onion market, adjudged to be the largest Onion market in Eastern Nigeria.
The ever blunt, bold and eloquent Chinenye Nwaogu still didn’t mince words in letting the Presidency know how the State council of Ease of Doing business have severally engaged with the Federal Ministry of Works, and to be fair to the Minister, His Excellency Babatunde Fashola (SAN) whom they have physically met over the issue, aside the several letters they’ve written, asking him to direct the contractors handling the project, Messrs CCECC to return to site for speedy completion, after all, As one Igbo adage succinctly captures it, “A boy whose father sends to steal, would certainly break the door with his leg”.
The trip had become necessary and crucial when one wonders what the situation of the said portion of the road would look like if nothing is done before the rain sets in any moment from now.
Beyond that, other issues they presented for attention is the issue of multiple road blocks mounted by the several security agencies along the high ways in the South East, which they maintained is a major clog on the wheel of Ease of doing business in the south East, by painting a vivid picture of what the situation looks like and made case for its review by the relevant agencies.
The delegation therefore appealed to the Vice President for his interventions, urging him to make good use of his office both as the Vice President of the federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chairman, presidential Business Enabling council (PEBEC) in removing all administrative and financial bottlenecks militating against the contractors in returning to site to commence and complete the project on record Time.
Unlike the Biblical Nine that were healed of their leprosy and never turned back to say thank you, the delegation however, on behalf of Abia State Government expressed gratitude to the President Mohammadu Buhari led administration, and commended him for all his efforts towards returning the country back to the path of socio Economic development, and acknowledged his commitment being witnessed in the fight against insecurity, and the enviable seat Nigeria occupies in global Ease of Doing business index, while applauding his administration’s focused and consistent support for the growth of MSMEs for which Aba has been a big beneficiaries.
The governor’s resolve in bequeathing to Abians, especially Aba, the economic hub of the State with massive turnaround in infrastructure has never been in doubt, as new roads are being completed and commissioned almost on daily basis.
With the completion of the Osisioma interchange, it is obvious that it would amount to a big disservice to the efforts of the State Government and create a major aesthetic deficit in the surrounding areas if the the Federal Government fails to speedily commence and complete the portion of the road under review.
Beyond the Enugu–Porthacourt road, Abia state has several other Federal Government owned roads in the State which for so long have been in very deplorable condition, leaving the road users with lots of harrowing experiences.
Sadly, Abians aren’t interested on whose responsibility it is to fix any road, as the only language they want to hear is that their roads are fixed. These explains why Dr. Ikpeazu is firing his missiles of rebuilding the broken walls of the State, especially the bad roads in the State from all available cylinder.
Those who are familiar with Mr. Nwaogu and his trajectory of successes under Dr. Ikpeazu’s administration would equally agree that whatever he sets to do, he achieves. He is known to have always succeeded where others have gone and failed. He is an achievers and an accomplisher. The smooth and successful administration of all Pro poor programmes under his watch, just to mention but a few is a case study and a reference point as well, hence this particular assignment wouldn’t be an exception I assure all Abians.
Godwin Okeagu
Media Unit
SIP office
23/02/2022
