In Anambra, roads everywhere… Obiano’s feat

Critics of Governor Obiano administration have always taken delight in attributing all road projects done in the state to past governors, claiming that the governor has not done anything tangible on road infrastructure. IZUNNA OKAFOR in this piece, highlights all road projects and bridges touched by the Obiano government.

ONE of the major factors that propel the developmental wheel of every society is good road. The Governor Willie Obiano led administration has, in the past seven years, done exceedingly well in road construction, reconstruction and maintenance in Anambra State.

  The administration started its road project with the construction and completion of  three flyovers along the Awka axis of the Enugu—Onitsha Expressway (situated variously at Aroma Junction, Kwata Junction and Amawbia Junction) thus bringing to an end ultimate end,  the age-long snarl-up usually experienced at three junctions. The administration also rehabilitated the dilapidated and failed portions of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway from Amawbia up to Agu-Awka Junction.

  Obiano Administration has taken on a total of 202 roads across the three geopolitical zones of the state – 77 in Anambra North;  72 in Anambra Central and 53 in Anambra South  (both completed and ongoing).

  Aside the impacts of each road on development and socio-economic well-being of the society, another consideration of the Obiano administration in selection of new road projects is taking asphalted roads to areas where they had not existed before. For instance, Nzam, which is the headquarters of Anambra West Local Government used to be the only local government headquarters that had no single tarred road. But that is about to change now, as the 14-kilometre road (with a now-completed bridge) leading thereto has recorded over 90 per cent completion rate. Others include Onono, Enugu-Otu, Eziagulu-Otu, and Mkpunando communities.

    Work is ongoing on the road that leads to state’s oil field through Aguleri-Uno and Aguleri-Otu. A solid 12-kilometre road with 24 culverts is also ongoing, to ease access to Ogwuaniocha community in Ogbaru Local Government Area, which is another town in the state with petroleum deposit. Another solid 11.2-kilometre road (with a bridge) is ongoing to link Ayamelum and Anambra East Local Government Areas, which will also enhance easy access to the nearby multi billion naira Chelsea Farm, the entry to which was also hitherto negotiated through Enugu State.

  The governor is determined to complete the road between Igbariam and Anaku, an area considered a major food basket of the state, while rice-growing Ifite-Ogwari community is witnessing metamorphosis in asphalted roads, and Oye-Agu Abagana-Nimo Road is over 70 per cent complete.

   Among other roads that received the ‘Obiano Effect’ in the last seven years include the Oluoghoha Road in Ihiala, Umuabuchi Road in Uli, Orsumuohu Road, Jerome Udorji Road Ozubulu, Ezira-Umuomaku, Achina Road, Isuofia Road, Ogwuaniocha-Ihiala Road (with connecting bridge), Ogwuikpere Road, Mmiata-Nzam Road, Aguleri Uno–Aguleri Otu Road (with longest bridge in the southeastern Nigeria —the 280 metre-long Omambala River Bridge), Aguleri Junction-Anakwu Road, Ukwuoji-Umuenechi-Umubelle-Nibo Road.

  Others include the Esther Obiakor Estate Road in Akwa, Awka-Isuanaocha-Achalla Road, Enugu-Umuonyia-Achina-Onneh Road, Ichida-Azibgo-Amichi-Osumenyi-Akwaihedi Road (inherited from his predecessor, Obi), Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbenu-Ugbene-Awba Ofemili Road (inherited from his predecessor, Obi), Achina-Oneh- Agbudu-Ogboji, Atani–Ozubulu Roads (inherited from his predecessor, Obi), Amansea-Awba Ofemmili Road, Ifite-Unizik Gate Road, among others.

  Ekwulobia–Ezinifite road, Ifite Nteje–Umunya road (with Bridge), Ekwulobia–Umunze–Umuchu bypass, Awkuzu–Nando road, Igboukwu–Ekwulummili road, to mention but a few, are among the numerous completed road projects by Governor Obiano.

  According to the state’s Commissioner for Works, Marcel Ifejiofor, the current administration of Governor Willie Obiano has completed a total of 109 roads and 16 bridges in the state, both those he inherited from past administration and those he awarded by himself.

  Giving a rundown of road projects so far completed by Governor Obiano, the commissioner, in an interview said: “In Anambra Central senatorial zone, he has completed 21 roads; in Anambra Central, he has completed 21 roads, and in Anambra North, he has completed 12; total, 54. These were the ones he awarded by himself and completed. Some are still ongoing.”

  “On number of bridges he awarded and completed, in the Central, he has completed six bridges; in the North, he has completed seven; and in the South, he has completed three; total completed, 16 bridges.”

  The commissioner further noted that the governor has completed 23 inherited roads in the Central, 14 in the North, and 18 in the South, making it a total of 55 inherited roads he has so far completed out of the 96 he inherited from past administration.