The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently construct a road in Enugu State that links the Southeast and parts of South-South to the Northern region of the country.
The road, which is approximately 24.1 km long, is the Akonike Junction–Ugwuomu–Emene NNPC Depot – Abakaliki/Ogoja Road. It harbours major economic concerns such as the NNPC Depot, Federal Ministry of Works, a private University and a Nigeria Army Estate. It also serves as an alternative route for travellers from Enugu to Ebonyi, Cross River and Benue states.
The House passed a motion on Oct. 4, moved by Paul Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi-uzo Federal Constituency, on the need to construct the road, so as to reduce the spate of accidents and insecurity in the area.
According to Nnamchi, the road is in a deplorable state, with potholes, gullies and erosion sites that make it difficult and dangerous for motorists and pedestrians. He said that because of the poor road condition, the area has become a haven for kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals, who take advantage of the slow traffic and poor visibility to attack travellers and residents.
He also said that several lives have been lost to road accidents in that corridor, as vehicles often collide or skid off the road due to the bad terrain. He cited a recent incident where a tanker carrying petroleum products exploded on the road, killing several people and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
Sunnewsonline.com reported that the House, therefore, resolved to urge the Federal Government to construct the Akonike Junction–Ugwuomu–Emene NNPC Depot-Abakaliki/Ogoja Gateway in Enugu State as a matter of urgency. The House also mandated its Committee on Works to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to come up with a workable modality that will ensure the speedy construction of the road.
Furthermore, the House mandated its Committees on Works and Appropriations to ensure the inclusion of construction of the road in the 2024 budget. The House also urged FERMA to carry out immediate palliative works on the road to make it motorable and safe for users pending its full reconstruction.
