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By Adebowale Johnson
Senator Tony Nwoye representing Anambra North Senatorial District is not a happy man. He is unhappy with the pathetic condition of some of the roads in the area he is representing.
Last Saturday, he led a team of stakeholders on an the-spot- assessment of the wretched, forgotten and forsaken Onitsha–33–Aguleri–Ayamelum–Adani expressway.
Nwoye described the road as “completely impassable,” adding that it has brought untold hardship to many across seven local government areas in the state.
According to him, residents of Anambra North and part of Enugu State have been left in the wilderness as the federal highway has collapsed completely, cutting off commuters, farmers, and local businesses from their communities.
Nwoye, who looked the visibly sad, said: “These communities produce farm produce, but there is no way to transport it. This road, as I said, is controlled by the federal government.
“This is why the people of Ayamelum cannot access their food. They have to go through shortcuts, using motorcycles, to move. On my way here, I saw a woman struggling on a motorbike. They can’t go through this federal road.
“The people of Ayamelum local government, the people of Anambra East, the people of Anambra West, the people of Onitsha North and Onitsha South, who want to travel to Abuja or Onitsha, or those who want to bring their produce from their farms to Onitsha, are cut off. They cannot move through this federal road, and there is no other viable route.
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“The alternative route is very far, and it is not a federal road. It is dilapidated and almost cut off.
“A motion was moved by my humble self in July 2023, barely a month after I was sworn in. The President has given tacit approval. The Bureau of Public Procurement has done its part through a No Objection
“What remains is the final phase, the award. I understand the issue of paucity of funds, but pending the approval by the National Assembly, or pending the sourcing of funds for the main award of this road, because it is a stretch of almost 50 to 60 kilometers in length, let there be emergency repairs on the critical sections, so that people can access their places.”
The lawmaker called on President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, to urgently intervene and direct immediate emergency repairs on critical sections of the highway.
“We are appealing to the Minister of Works, who has also briefed Mr. President, who has given tacit approval, to urgently intervene, for this road to be awarded and for succour to be given to the people of Anambra North through emergency repairs of the critical sections, pending the final award.
“I have a question to ask: Have you seen any vehicle? Have you seen any? You cannot believe that this is a federal road. You cannot believe it.”
The senator stressed that beyond the temporary palliatives, the priority must remain the award and full reconstruction of the road to permanently end the suffering of his constituents.
“This is my appeal to Mr. President, to the Honourable Minister of Works and his team, to the entire management, and also to the Honourable Minister of Finance, to assist with funding,” he said.
Nwoye said that beyond the temporary palliatives, the priority must remain the award and full reconstruction of the road to permanently end the suffering of his constituents.
