Ekweremadu Flags Off N15bn Road Project

A N15 billion road project has been flagged –off at Mpu, in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, with a call on his fellow lawmakers from the state in  the National Assembly to come together and work as a team in order to serve the people better than what is obtainable at the moment.

Chief Ekweremadu said that the call had become necessary in order to  better the lots of the people of the state adding that “I believe all of us working together as members of one family we will continue to serve our people much better”.

The Road Project , Oji – Achi –Obeagu – Mmaku – Awgu – Ndeaboh – Mpu – Okpanku – Ogidi, is being executed by SETRACO Nig. Ltd, while the contract was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Abuja , and it is expected to be completed in 24 Months.

The road which has 5 bridges which were destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War, 42 years ago, also leads to Akaeze in Ebonyi state, and when completed would go a long way in helping the people of the area who are predominantly farmers to evacuate their farm produce not only to the urban areas of the state, but to neighbouring sister states like Abia and Ebonyi .

According to Chief Ekweremadu, presidential candidates, senators, local government chairmen, governorship aspirants, House of Assembly members , among others had at one time or another in the past promised to do the road and the bridges, but never did. He expressed  happiness that “ today we are opportune to be part of the generation that have this accomplished”.

Senator Ekweremadu further said: “As a young man growing up, I have had cause to attend political rallies where promises were made that they would do this road and the bridges, but all the hopes were dashed . Budget after budget since 1970, the government of the then Anambra state had included this road in their various budgets and appropriation act . But like other promises they never came through”, he also stressed.

He, therefore, used the occasion to thank the Federal Government , especially “Mr. President , Dr Goodluck Jonathan , who had made this possible. So on behalf of the communities and all other people that will use this road , I want to appreciate Mr. President for harkening our voice by making this possible”.

While thanking friends of his community in the Senate and House of Representatives, and all those who offered all kinds of prayers to make the award of the road contract possible, Chief Ekweremadu , equally praised his people for waiting patiently for 42 years, adding “I think there is a new dawn. We are witnessing something new and it will be sustained in Jesus name”, he further prayed.

Chief Ekweremadu, however, urged the contractors handling the project to endeavour to complete the job earlier than the scheduled time.

The high point of the occasion which attracted many important personalities including some members of the Enugu and Ebonyi states Houses of Assembly, religious leaders, traditional rulers, among others, was the driving by senator Ekweremadu,to the admiration of the large crowd of people present, of one of the heavy earth-moving equipment already assembled in their numbers by the contractor handling the job.