By Anselem Anokwute
Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma has been challenged to build one signature road project in his name instead of repairing and leverage on the already existing road by way of renovations same and cutting ribbon to commission it as if it’s a new project.
The new Roads yearning for development include the aged long abandoned track route from Omuma Oru East to Njaba LGAs down to Owerri and Omuma to Okwudor in Njaba LGAs down to Isu in Isu Council down to Amaraku Community in Isiala Mbano respectively.
Let the governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma do a new road project a test of his capacity.
An extraction from Chief Anthony Chukwuemeka Ohanenye Joint Committee reports
“The Socio-Cultural and Economic benefits of the above-mentioned Link-Roads are multi-laterally enormous viz:
1. The above-mentioned proposed road for Construction shall be of a greater benefit to, not only for the people of Ofekata 1 Autonomous Community in Oru-East LGA and Amazano Autonomous Community in Njaba LGA but, the generality of the people in Oru-East, Njaba, Isu, Oru West, Orlu, Oguta, Mbaitoli Local Government Areas and beyond.
2. From the Oru-East Local Government Council’s Headquarters, Omuma, one could move straight to Umuduru Amiri to Awo-Omamma Technical Junction to Mgbakaito in Ofekata 1 Autonomous Community to Mmiri-Ogwoyiri (*THE LINKING BRIDGE*) to Amazano Autonomous Community in Njaba LGA, where, a little further, one could divert to the left to join Orlu/Owerri road through Afor-Umuaka in Njaba LGA; or he/she diverts to the right to join Owerri/Onitsha road through Ukwuorji in Mbaitoli LGA. So, along the aforementioned roads, there are about 100 adjoining roads leading to towns and villages.
3. The Above-mentioned LGAs, through the proposed link-road, have large markets like Orie-Omuma, Orie Amiri, Afor-Awo, Ekeachara, Nkwo-Awo, Eke-Amazano, Orie-Ugbele, down to Afor-Umuaka and somany others. So, with these markets, Transportation system inclusive, and the availability of the said link-road, it is certain that the economic activities and revenue base of Imo State can never remain thesame.
4. Once the proposed inter-intra-city road is actualized, a Feasibility Study already has it that, such Businesses like Estate developments, Market developments, Filling stations, Consultancy offices, Licensing Offices, Ticketing Offices, Schools, Hospitals, Hotels, Auto/Mechanic workshops, Shops/Stalls/Malls, Commercial motor Parks as well as multi-social Arenas, along the roadsides, will still be a boost in the IGRs of the Imo State Government.
4. When constructed, the link-road will obviously boost the economic activities of the aforementioned LGAs in the areas of tenancy, sand/gravel mining, mechanized farming to enhance productivity, fishing and fishery, as well as agrobased farming in such areas like corn mill/production, cassava mill/production, flour mill/production, palm oil mill/production, banana/plantain plantations & produce, palm plantations & produce, fruit orchards and produce, cashew plantations and produce, all year-round vegetable production, farm-based irrigation system and so on. All these above are still a revenue-based mechanism to further boost the State Government’s IGR, as well as an avenue to curbing youth unemployment/restiveness in the State, because the youths shall be directly involved in various commercial sectors other than engaging in crimes and criminality.
6. On Socio-Cultural relationship, the afore-mentioned Communities as well as the neighbouring Local Government Areas had shared things in common, such as:
(a) Bilateral trades on crafts, palm-wine, palm oil, cash crops and various food items.
(b) Bilateral Relations in marriage had long existed amongst their wards, and we shall all be happy if reconnected hence the proposed ring-road;
(c) Bilaterally, Ekwe-Emume, Owu, Okorosha, Ekeleke, Iri-ji, Ara-na-Umu Cultural festivities and more, as well as Custom existent in the two communities (and beyond) were our common biding force from the Origin;
7. The Link-Road shall be a reconnecting factor with Oru-East LGA and Njaba LGA in particular and other LGAs in Imo State in general.
8. Before the Biafran/Nigerian Civil War, the then government gave an approval on the said road for Construction; and materials were brought to the Iyi-ogwoyiri construction site; pillars were mounted; but abandoned till date. It is on record that those items brought were illegally taken away to an unknown location(s), just immediately after the war.
9. If Constructed, there would be a lesser traffic burdens on both orlu/Owerri and Owerri/Onitsha roads; and serial road accidents in the State would have been a thing of the past.
10. We are believing same, based on our collective feasibility study, that the proposed Link-Road which shall certainly serve as an intra-inter-city road network will be approved for construction by the shared prosperity government of Imo State, for a greater socio-cultural cum economic growth and betterment in Imo State. We have long yearned for that.
11. Thank you and God bless!
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Hon. I.J.K. Nnaoma,
Joint Committee Secretary,
Ofekata 1 Autonomous Community, Awo-Omamma, Oru East LGA;
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Chief Uju Ugochukwu,
Joint Committee Secretary,
Amazano Autonomous Community,
Njaba LGA.
Hon Chief Anthony Chukwuemeka Ohanenye jp.
Joint Committee Chairman.