RECONSTRUCTION OF OWERRI-ORLU ROAD & OWERRI-OKIGWE ROAD HAS SO FAR GULPED OVER #8BN —COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS

Reporter:  CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The Imo State Government says it has paid over eight billion naira for the take-off of work on the reconstruction of Owerri-Orlu Road and Owerri-Okigwe Road recently awarded by the state government.

The State Commissioner for Works, Chief Ralph Nwosu, who made this known during a news conference in Owerri, noted that forty-nine ongoing road projects across the state were at their various stages of completion.

He said the government was conscious of the poor state of road infrastructure in the state, hence efforts were being intensified to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

Chief Nwosu explained that many strategic roads, including Assumpta- Port Harcourt Road, Control- World Bank Road, Works Layout and other critical roads within the Owerri metropolis had been reconstructed in line with the policy trust of the present administration.

Chief Nwosu promised that the contract for the reconstruction of Naze- Poly-Ihiagwa Road would soon be re-awarded to a more committed firm to boost economic activities in the area and ease movement on the road connecting two federal tertiary institutions in the state.

He gave an assurance that the government would not compromise on the quality of jobs done on the roads and appealed to residents to exercise patience over the seeming delay in the execution of some of the jobs.

Chief Nwosu said the ongoing construction of a tunnel at Egbu Road, terminating at Otammiri River in Owerri, was to deal with perennial flooding, which had forced many residents within the axis to vacate their homes.   

The Works Commissioner promised to pay more attention to rural roads, pointing out that the rehabilitation of the bridge at Nekede Old Road by the state government was a demonstration of its resolve to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people.