The Anambra State House of Assembly has call on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioner for Works to ensures easy completion of the abandoned Onuselogu – Amichi – Azigbo Road.
The member representing Nnewi South one constituency Hon. Nonso Atuchkwu who is the chief sponsor of the motion while speaking at plenary on Tuesday said the construction of the 4.5KM Onuselogu-Amichi-Azigbo road was awarded by the immediate past administration with the aim of serving as a Major bypass connecting the communities of Azigbo, Amichi & Awka-Etiti and its commencement took off sometime in March 2019.
“The construction of Onuselogu – Amichi – Azigbo road abandoned by the contractor shortly after commencement of the contract has not only resulted to economic waste of the already paltry resources of the State but has also left residents of the affected communities as well as road users in excruciating pains while accessing the said road.
“The utter neglect of the completion of the said road has necessitated a huge gully erosion within the abandoned construction axis thereby threatening the lives of nearby residents together with their valuable properties.
“The provision of Section 14(2) b of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which stipulates that the protection of lives and properties shall be the paramount objective of every good government. The government of Prof. Charles Soludo has been on the forefront of this and we want to see this extended to this mentioned road.
“The Prof. Charles Soludo led administration is a strong proponent of the idea that business of governance is a continuous process aimed towards delivering the dividends of democracy to the masses.
“Once it rains in Azigbo, nursery and primary school children stay back in school till the rain stops because this is the only road that is accessable.
” In this Azigbo road, there is a Catholic church, Anglican church, civic center, town hall and also leads to the house of a former lawmaker.
“If urgent attention is given on this road, it will save the government money because the more we wait, the more it dilapidate and damages more.
“In 2020, a child who was coming back from school was hit by flood in Azigbo and the dead body was recovered five communities after.
Speaking in favour of the motion, minority leader Hon. Johbosco Akaegbobi, Hon. Noble igwe, Hon. Golden iloh, Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi, Hon. Douglas Egbuna, Hon. Henry Mbachu. Hon Bernard Udemezue, Deputy Minority leader Hon Jude Akpua, Hon. Jude Umennajiego, Hon. Chimezie Ikwunne, Hon. Tony Moubike,
” We commend Governor Chukwuma Soludo on the road projects currently going on in the entire local governments of the state and we are urging him to intervane on this particular road.
” This road is vital. This is a passionate appeal. The Governor should include this road in the next set of roads that is will be constructed.
” The reports on roads that where awarded and abandoned does not speak well on the level of compliance of the established regulators in Anambra state.
“Funds where released for the construction of this roads. We should start investigating to know what happened to the resources disbursed for the construction of this roads.
” When this roads are abandoned, erosion steps in. Why should a contractor receive money and abandone the project.
Anambra speaker Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze while speaking in support of the motion said their is need for urgent attention on those roads.
Rt. Hon. Udeze led emphasize on the contractors handling the abandoned road and requested that the deputy chairman house committee on works should meet him after plenary.
The house was adjoined to Thursday August 10 2023
