…The road has deteriorated to the point of cutting off three neighbouring Local Government Areas of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Owerri-West from other parts of Imo State – Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima
BY OBUTE JAMES
The House of Representatives on Thursday 30th September called on the Federal Ministry of Works, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC as well as Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA to take necessary actions in order to rehabilitate Avu-Etekwuru Road and complete the abandoned Oguta/Nnebukwu bridge in Imo State.
The House resolution followed a motion by Hon Uju Kingsley Chima, representive of Ohaji/Egbema/ Oguta/Oru-West Federal Constituency of Imo State on “Urgent Need to Rehabilitate Avu-Etekwuru Road and Complete the Abandoned Oguta/Nnebukwu Bridge in Imo State.”
Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima told THE LEGISLATURE in interview that if nothing is done immediately to fix the road and the bridge the challenges of the people living in the areas will be compounded.
Presenting the motion on Thursday 30th September, 2021 during the House plenary session, Hon Uju Kingsley said:
“The House: Notes that Avu-Etekwuru road is a major road linking Ohaji/Egbema and Owerri-West Local Government Areas of Imo State and is also an access road for Multinational Oil Companies and over thirty (30) Communities in the two Local Government Areas;
“Also notes that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of Avu-Etekwuru Road and construction of a bridge across Oguta lake to link Nnebukwu Community and Egwe/Oguta Communities.
“Further notes that legislative oversight have been carried out at the contract sites in the presence of the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the contractors to ascertain the level of work done and the reasons for the undue delay in completing the projects.
“Aware that the contracts were awarded over 15 years ago and the contractors were mobilized but no significant progress has been made at the sites as the contractors are demanding for an upward review of the contracts due to high cost of materials.
“Worried that the Road has become impassable as it has deteriorated and in the process, cutting off the three neighbouring Local Government Areas of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Owerri-West from other parts of Imo State.
“Cognizant that if the road is not given the urgent attention it deserves, more lives and properties will be lost to, flooding in Avu and Etekwuru and other Communities where the construction of the bridge was abandoned in Oguta.
Based on his prayers, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently rehabilitate the Avu-Etekwuru Road to ease free flow of traffic on the Road.
The House also urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to urgently review and redesign the projects to conform with modern engineering designs and costs so that the jobs can resume in earnest.
The House of Representatives also mandated the Committees on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to liaise with the relevant agencies to ensure compliance.