Roads and the Politics of Development in Anambra
By Paul Nwosu
The politics of development in Anambra State is anchored on the emplacement of the rule of law. In the field of security, the murderers and kidnappers who were formerly called Unknown Gunmen have been painstakingly smoked out of their idolatrous camps in the bushes. They are now being confronted as known men who have nowhere to hide. A measure of sanity has been established across the state such that Governor Soludo can now pursue his grand plan of turning the entire Anambra State into a vast road construction site.
Anambra people love to move about like the true republicans that they are, and a good road network is sine qua non to their ambitions and needs. As Leo-Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox Computers, who hails from Imo State, had said, The wealth, energy and knowledge per square meter in Anambra State does not exist in any other part of Africa.
Anambra must continue to shine the light against considerable odds. Governor Soludo has said that oil money is dwindling. In his inaugural speech, Mr. Governor mentioned that the governments of advanced countries use taxes to work in solving public problems. It is incumbent on all responsible citizens therefore to pay their taxes.
Everyone must pay their fair share for Anambra to prosper. It is due to the tax collected that there is the signpost at every construction site: “Your tax is working for you.
Governor Soludo has thus far initiated the construction of 244 kilometres of roads and counting. The flagging-off of this quantum of roads is truly unprecedented and astounding. Now that the rainy season is over, the construction work is moving apace. The ongoing construction of roads in Anambra State has brought so much joy to the diverse communities across the state. Mr. Governor has given the guarantee to construct stone-base roads with cement stabilization and moisture content. It is a quality never seen before in these shores.
It is worthy of celebration that every local government has at least one road under construction. The erstwhile neglected suburb of Okpoko on the fringes of Onitsha has been opened through the road construction drive.
The governor always takes charge of going personally to inspect any road flagged off for construction. The roads are being constructed to satisfy specific needs of the communities and the state. All the food-basket zones of Anambra State are being interlinked with road networks to ensure that the produced foods can be readily brought to the outlying markets.
Some of the roads have been designed to decongest all clogged areas. From Ogidi to Ogbunike, for instance, there is heavy water-logging that is being efficiently addressed. The logjam from Igboukwu down to Isuofia and Ekwulobia will soon be a thing of the past.
Roads in some areas that had not been touched for more than 40 years are witnessing massive construction. Places like Nzam that never had any tarred road to crow about are bearing witness to the asphalting of roads.
Governor Soludo has given the assurance that the roads being built now will last for all of 20 years. The transparency being brought into the process, from bidding to execution, is highly remarkable.
The mantra in Anambra State remains: Roads! Roads! Roads! The state-wide marvels of construction range from Awka to Okpuno, Isuaniocha, Amansea, Awa, Ufuma, Akpulu, Ogbunka, Achina, Enugwu-Umuonia, Onneh, Agbudu and indeed all the LGAs.
The riverine areas of the likes of Mmiata are poised to enjoy tarred roads alongside a splendidly delivered water transportation system. When all the work is done one can traverse around Anambra State in a record time without wasting man-hours as was the case before.
Township roads in Onitsha are being upgraded with gusto. Governor Soludo has been to Fegge, Onitsha to flag-off the network of roads in the densely populated zone of the township.
A hands-on leader, Mr. Governor took personal charge of going to Owelle-Aja, Obosi, where if it rains heavily, water level gets to the necks of the people. It is by directly inspecting the needs of the people that Governor Soludo decides on the type of road to be constructed. He thus fixes the roads according to the needs of the people and communities.
The heavy construction works ongoing all over Anambra State are testaments to promises kept by Mr. Governor in his stated politics of development toward making Anambra State a liveable and prosperous megacity state.
According to Governor Soludo in his interactive session with the media and a cross-section of Ndi-Anambra broadcast by Anambra Broadcasting Service, the timelines of these roads I awarded would be completed before my first year in office. From Mmiata, “the road should be completed before March next year. The one of Amansea should be completed before February next year.”
Many of the roads have timelines of eight months, one year, and 18 months. The first construction cycle is October to March. Mr. Governor stated that the second construction cycle should see us constructing over 100km of roads by the end of next year.”
He explained further that, “Phase One of the roads we are dealing with are roads that are very strategic, that impact on a large number of people and address traffic challenges. The constructed roads should help decongest and ease traffic. We are intervening in places that will become game-changers. In Phase Two, we will build bridges. I understand every village needs roads.”
Sir Paul Nwosu
Anambra State Commissioner for Information
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