FG Begins Work On Onitsha -Enugu Road

The Federal Government, has commenced the re-construction of the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Highway in fulfillment of its promise to the South-East before the April 2011 general elections.

The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, said this in Onitsha on Saturday while inspecting the extent of damage on the road caused by erosion among other factors.

Onolememen said the re-construction would cover the Head-Bridge to Upper Iweka Axis of the road, adding that palliative work would be done on the parts leading to the Onitsha-Owerri road.

He said the contractor handling the road had been fully mobilised for the first phase and its palliative work; while work on the other phases would follow later.

“As I can see, this road is critical and deplorable as Gov. Peter Obi described it when he visited me in my office.

“The President has directed for work to commence and it has started already,’’ Onolememen said, adding that work would start soon on the 2nd Niger Bridge as the president has directed.

The minister, however, decried the attitude of traders who use the service line of the road for trading and mounting of bill boards.

“The contractor must work with the controller of work and the state authorities to get these people and these bill-boards out for the re-construction to continue without hitches,’’ he said.

Mr Hishem Gosayni, Area Manager of Consolidated Construction Company (CCC) in charge of the road, said the company had been mobilised to continue work, assuring that it would deliver a quality job within the time frame.

Hishem appealed to Onitsha residents and the Anambra government to co-operate with the company, to enable it delivers on schedule.

Gov. Peter Obi thanked the minister for facilitating work on the road, “especially at the beginning of the road, which is considered to be critical’’.

“I will assure you Sir, that I will personally supervise this project myself,’’ he said.