By Princely Onyenwe
Nekede Ihiagwa busy road has continued to be a nightmare to the residents of the area and vehicles plying the road have continued visiting several mechanic workshops for repairs on daily basis. Transport fare within the affected area has continuously increased because of bad condition of the road which is filled with impassable potholes. The situation has remained same even at the filling of this report by 9News team this Wednesday morning.
Several reports both from the angle of pro- government and opposition story peddlers took another dimension to heighten more eyebrows and condemnation of government’s efforts invested to completing the project. This singular reason attracted my detailed investigation to state the record, facts and figures straight.
Leo -9 construction firm handling the project has been blamed several times for the slowness in project execution, lack of quality standard, avoidance cum skipping of drainages on the entire road and its non- completion till date.
Lack of funding was also hinted as an impediment to the progression of work expected on the project. Experts interviewed in the process of live investigation and confirmation of the actuality of the position of the Nekede -Ihiagwa road/bridge project pointed hands on government’s low funding to execute the project in speed to a confirmable conclusion.
From the construction site close to the Ihiagwa river , interview report with newsmen affirmed that some Leo -9 workers told us that , work is still in progress accordingly and that the project will be completed as approved. The delay is because of the rain”
I was shocked at the bad condition of of the road coupled with deep potholes within the Umudoche Umuoma axis of the road begining from Basic Bus stop to New road bus stop and stretches down to Transformer Junction Umuagwu Umuoma to the Police training school. Surprisingly these areas mentioned have no drainage inclusive in the project plan. “Better still, drainage was skipped to damage the road construction to punish the user, an eye witness hinted.
Drainage should be considered as a “must do” within the Umudoche Umuoma Nekede axis to NNPC Iriamogu Ihiagwa axis because of the easy connectivity to the Otamiri River in the area. Such drainages will flow smoothly to the discharge point in the river through the coverts already existing on the road as established during Late Sam Mbakwe’s administration as Imo State Governor. There’s a big covet located directly opposite Police division Umuoma Nekede till date.
From investigation , what the area needs is to give the Umudoche people a solid drainage to connect the existing coverts and link it to the Ama mmiri Umudoche River side. Eventually, Leo -9 Construction Firm handling this project refused the construction of drainage from the former Okata bakery and sachet water company Okwu Extension axis to Umudoche via NNPC axis. Leo-9 constructed drainage on Nekede Ihiagwa road stopped at Emzy Hospital Okwu Extension axis of the Nekede Ihiagwa road till date. This neglect is a huge set back and possible cause of road breakage and erosion menace from Basic Bus stop to police training school Nekede.
Nekede Maternity very close to industrial cluster axis down to Assemblies bus stop across Fedponek entrance to Riverside and the dust bin axis to Nekede secondary school is impassablly full of deep potholes. Recall that Dust bin axis was a bit relieved few months ago by the Owerri the intervention of the Owerri West local government but the situation has returned to the former as captured in this report by 9News
Within the Ihiagwa market axis, the road is a bit motorable but full of big potholes. In same manner down to FUTO back gate Ihiagwa, where few trips of chippings was spotted alongside one pay loader belonging to Leo -9 was spotted packed , same at Iriamogu axis where one other heavy utility machine was packed. From Arusi’s gate (a notable personality in the area), towards Legacy Hotel axis down to the Ihiagwa bridge is filled with red mud at press time.
Across the Ihiagwa bridge, towards FUTO front gate Ihiagwa Obinze axis is a bit motorable but no work was going on in any of these locations mentioned at the time of filling this report by 9News Nigeria. The project engineer was not seen on site at the time of filling this report and calls put across to reach him was aborted.
Of a fact , the Shared Prosperity government under Gov Uzodinma has done well in recovering the collapsed Ihiagwa bridge Which is near in completion at press time , and this unwavering efforts invested on the Nekede Ihiagwa road cannot be overemphasized but commendable.
I also spotted the demolished criminal shanties within the Ihiagwa River side targetted at establishing a lasting safety and security of lives and properties within the area. Investigation reveals that the demolition was carried out by IMSG through the office of SA to the governor, Nze chinasa Nwaneri and his indefatigable team.
No doubt, at the completion of the Ihiagwa Nekede road signature project executed by His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma, the legislative efforts and unquantifiable loyalty invested by the back-to-back Majority Leader Imo State House of Assembly and member representing Owerri West State constituency in the IMHA through APC government, Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi (Egbe) will once again be seen manifest to the admiration of Ndi Owerri West in addition to the much he has done through robust legislative prowess, sponsoring and co-sponsoring of people oriented motions and bills, official engagement with the Executive and Judicial arms, stability in 10th Assembly IMHA, empowerment of Constituents, delibrations with political statesmen in Owerri Zone, grassroots town hall meetings and several oversight functions as 9News Nigeria reports.
Ndi Imo and the homonguos number of users of this particular road and link bridge are calling for the completion of the construction work on this particular Nekede Ihiagwa road. The inclusion of quality drainages from beginning to the end of the road is professionally advisable to enable lasting solidity and durability. At completion vehicles coming from Owerri -Port Harcourt road can navigate Ihiagwa Nekede road to Naze Aba road without congesting the municipality.
In summary, the residents of this area are pleading on the People’s Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma CON to look into their plights for possible considerable, acknowledgement and prompt action.
This investigation is backed up with series of videos and photos to verify the actual situation report for public consumption. Meanwhile, the Ihiagwa bridge was closed down for access pending its completion and possible commissioning while the road construction lasts.
©️ PrincelyOnyenwe
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria @08036856526
