The State of the Owerri-Onitsha road, which is a federal road and causing lots of havoc to commuters plying it, has drawn the attention of the Imo State House Of Assembly, and calls have been made for urgent Palliative work to be done on the bad spots.
This follows a motion moved by Hon Chigozie Nwaneri, member representing Oru East State Constituency, during plenary on Tuesday.
The Motion is titled, ” *MOTION TO URGE HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR HOPE UZODIMMA, GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE, TO URGE THE RELEVANT AGENCIES TO DO PALLIATIVE/ EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE BAD SPOTS ON OWERRI-ONITSHA ROAD, WHICH IS IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR.
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Discussing the motion, Hon Chigozie Nwaneri explained that the Owerri/Onitsha road has turned to a death trap, and currently, nothing to write home about, pointing out that commuters who ply the route pass through excruciating difficulties.
Hon Chigozie Nwaneri further explained that Awo-Omamma junction and Oguta/Mgbidi junction appears to be the worst hit, as part of the road has almost caved in, and if urgent steps are not taken, would lead to heavy loss of lives and properties, especially, as Yuletide season is fast approaching.
He further argued that since the Owerri-Onitsha is one of the busiest roads in the state, with lots of human and vehicular traffic, there is need to fix the bad spots urgently. He therefore urged his colleagues to support the motion..
The motion which received overwhelming support from Honourable members was seconded by Hon Chief Eddy Obinna, member representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency. In supporting the motion, Honourable Members, in addition, called on the State Government to direct relevant agencies to deploy Men and Materials to every bad spot on roads across the state. *Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi (Owerri West State Constituency), Hon Chief Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise State Constituency), Rt Honourable Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu (Nwangele State Constituency), Hon Engr Johnson Duru (Ideato South State Constituency) and Rt Honourable Paul Emeziem (Onuimo State Constituency)* all agreed that everything should be done to fix the Awo-Omamma junction and Oguta Mgbidi junction, in an urgent need to avail the imminent danger to lives of Imo People and others posed by the level of decay.
*The Speaker, Rt Honourable Barrister Anthony Emeka Nduka* , having listened to the debates and contributions of members, put it to vote, and it was unanimously adopted, thus, ” *Be it resolved by this Honourable House to urge the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma to direct the Commissioner in-charge of the Ministry of Works in the State to embark on palliative repairs of that road, especially, that Awo-Omamma junction and Oguta/Mgbidi junction to avail the imminent danger to lives of Imo People and others, posed by the level of decay on that road and that particular spot”.
“Be it also resolved to urge the Governor to direct Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to as a matter of urgency deploy Men and Materials to that road, especially, the Awo-Omamma junction and Oguta/Mgbidi junction to effect repairs before the festive season commences, to avoid undue hardship on road users who daily ply the route”.
