EBONYI STATE GOVT ORDERS STOPPAGE OF WORK ON OKPOSI –ISU ONICHA-NARA ROAD

Ebonyi State Government has ordered the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA to stop further interventions on Okposi-Isu Onicha-Nara Federal road project as a result of alleged shoddy job. The Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Project Matters, Mr Itapa Azobu gave the order when he led a protest to the project site in Okposi.

The protest almost turned violent as youths of the host community demanded answers from FERMA officials for the alleged poor quality of work. The protesters bore placards with various inscriptions such as: “FERMA give us Ebonyi standard”, “FERMA stop work and give us good work” and “We reject poor road project by FERMA”.

The road which is about twenty five kilometres, links up Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area, Isu in Onicha Local Government Area and Nara in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. Mr Azuobu noted with dismay that FERMA deviated from technical specifications for executing such road project and emphasised that the Agency must comply with the set standard for road construction in Ebonyi State or vacate site.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Mr Mark Onu and the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, Mr Felix Igboke said Government decided to stop work at the site following complaints by road users. The State Director of FERMA, Mrs Eberechukwu Ogbuagu said the project was narrowed down to the construction of two box culverts in addition to nine hundred meters of road to connect the two and was awarded under 2017 capital project.

She pointed out that she had before now discussed the issue of specifications with the State Government and denied allegation of substandard work. Mrs Ogbuagu said FERMA had channels of communications to enable communities to make complaints over its activities   and expressed reservations over the approach adopted by the protesters.

AMECHI ODO