Reps Urge Fashola To Fix Collapsing Federal Roads In South-East, South-South
THE House of Representatives has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of major federal roads in the Southern part of Nigeria and has called on the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to urgently intervene.
The motion, which was adopted without debate, was moved by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Minority Leader Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Whip Nkeiruka Onyejocha, House Spokesman Benjamin Kalu, and 37 other lawmakers. Rep. Okechukwu reported that a large gully had suddenly developed along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. He noted that this development has split the expressway into two, and a fuel tanker carrying diesel was trapped in the gully. According to him, it took the intervention of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to trans-load the tanker’s contents and close off the remaining section of the road to prevent further danger.
The lawmakers expressed concern that the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway is a critical link connecting several communities in the South-East and linking the region to the South-South. Its present impassable state is causing hardship to motorists and residents while posing serious risks to lives and economic activity.
The House also noted that several sections of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway are deteriorating, even though contractors are still reportedly on site. They added that the rehabilitation of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway appears to have been abandoned, especially around the Amansea axis, where motorists are now facing immense hardship.
The lawmakers warned that if these road conditions are not addressed quickly, they could lead to a humanitarian crisis and provide opportunities for criminal elements to exploit the situation. The House resolved to call on the Minister of Works and Housing to begin emergency repairs on the failed portions of the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway to ease the suffering of Nigerians. It also resolved to investigate the ongoing failure of parts of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the apparent abandonment of work on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, especially the Amansea section.
THE House of Representatives on Wednesday decried the terrible state of federal roads in the Southern part of the country, urging the Ministry of Works to quickly intervene and fix them.
The motion to that effect, was sponsored by the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Whip of the House, Nkeiruka Onyejocha, House Spokesman Rep. Benjamin Kalu and 37 others.
In raising the motion, Rep. Okechukwu reported that “a gully has suddenly emerged on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway around Oraifute, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State”.
He reported further that “this development has cut the expressway into two parts leading to the entrapment of a fuel tanker laden with diesel in the gully”.
He said that “it took the intervention of the personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure that the contents of the trapped tanker was trans-loaded while the remaining portion of the road remains closed, to avoid loss of lives”.
He expressed concern that “the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway offers a bypass to several communities in the South-East as well as connects the South-East and South-South geopolitical zonesof the country.
Worried that the present condition of the road has made the road completely impassable as same poses great hardship to motorists, other road users, host communities and constitutes threat to the lives of the people; hence the need for urgent government intervention”.
According to the mover, “several portions of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway are failing even while the contractors are still on the site”, as he expressed worries “that the rehabilitation works on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has been abandoned as evident in the immense hardship being experienced by motorists and other road users in the Amansea section of the expressway.
Concerned that the economic well being of our people is now in serious jeopardy which can lead to a great humanitarian and security crisis”.
He warned that if not quickly fixed, it may present “opportunity to criminal elements to take undue advantage of these situations”.
The motion was adopted without debate, as the House resolved to “Call on the Minister of Works and Housing to commence urgent emergency repairs of the failed portion of Onitsha-Owerri Expressway with a view to easing hardship on motorists and Nigerians.
Investigate the ongoing failure of strategic portions of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway while the contractor is still carrying out rehabilitation works”.
The House, also resolved to “Investigate the abandonment of the rehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway which has led to the gory condition of the Amansea section of the expressway”.2023: ADC reprimands NEF, says enough of this dichotomy.
