Rochas & construction of rural roads
By Nwaorgu Faustinus
Though I have done some opinion pieces on the current
administration in Imo State, led by the peoples’ Governor – Owelle Rochas
Okorocha in connection to infrastructural development, particularly in the area
of road construction, it would not be out of place to draw the attention of Imo
State government to the lapses observed by this writer in the construction of
the road that runs through Umuocham Ntu to Elelem all in Ngor/Okpala LGA.
During my last visit to Umuodagu Ntu in Ngor-Okpala LGA,
I was able to gather from a reliable source who does not want his name
mentioned which this writer also confirmed of how the contractors handling
Umuocham, Umuhoko, Umuogba, Umuolokoche and Umuaku axis road all in Ntu
community forgo the construction of culvert at Aforegbe a weekly market in
Umuogba Ntu and another at St. Paul’s Catholic Parish which is located at the
boundary between Umuogba and Umuolokoche Ntu. However, information available to ngorokpalaresercher a few hours ago
indicated that a solidarity club which goes by the name Otu Ama led by its
leader took it upon themselves to dig and lay big pipes across the two flood
spots that has eased free flow of flood into a bush through these pipes. As
commendable as this gesture by the Otu Ama Club is, that has resulted in the
complete reduction of flood which gathers at the two spots, the state
government must compel the contractors to construct the culverts just as the
one that was constructed at Umuocham Ntu, near their weekly market. What the
solidarity club has done is a temporary act of concern to mitigate the
situation. Apart from erecting the culverts, the state government should
make sure that the contractors handling the road project build drainage systems
by the sides of the road.
It has therefore become necessary to draw the attention
of the state government to this negligence on the part of the contractors to
put in place “standard culverts” as captured in the design of the road in the
above mentioned places as this will ensure the durability of the road if it is
duly completed. The above spot for the avoidance of doubt is seen by many as
the converging point of flood. If nothing is done to put these culverts in
place, the contractors and the state government should take the blame. Many are
of the view that, the flood which is a common sight at the spots whenever rain
falls will lead to the speedy deterioration of the road if eventually completed.
Furthermore, the haphazard erection of drainage system
(gutters) along the road, given the all-important role it plays should be
completed holistically before the current asphalting from Umuocham Ntu to
Umuagwu Eziama if those handling the road construction want the road to last
for appreciable time frame. The factor that can result in the timely
depreciation or weakening of the road which is currently undergoing asphalting
is flood, intractable weeds and grass that grow constantly along the road.
Though it is the constitutional responsibility of any
democratically elected and responsive administration to provide such dividends
of democracy to those who voted them into elective positions, I must therefore
commend the Rochas Okorocha’s led administration for the ambitious development
projects it has embarked upon (both the on-going and completed ones). Mention
need to be made of the completion of the road that runs from the main gate of the
council secretariat through Umukabia to Ihitte as well as the asphalting and
building of gutters of a selected portion in Ngor-Okpala council secretariat
which was never attended to by previous administration.
Indeed, Owerri, the capital of Imo State among other
places is wearing a new look. Keep up the good work you are doing.
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