‘Declare State Of Emergency On Abia Roads’

The Abia State House of Assembly has called on the Federal
Government to ‘declare a state of emergency’ on the Federal Roads in the State.

The call followed a motion of urgent public importance moved
by Mr Martins Azubike, representing Isiala Ngwa North Constituency, on the
state of the roads in the state.

Azubike said movements on all the federal roads in Abia
State, especially the Port Harcourt/Enugu Expressway and Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene Road,
have become a nightmare and at times lead to accidents and loss of lives.

“Two months ago, a commercial vehicle carrying a pregnant
woman had an accident at Umuika Junction, near Aba, before the woman could be
taken to a hospital, she died,’’ he said.

He said that though the Federal Government had awarded
contract for the reconstruction of the roads, “Abia people are yet to see the
contractor after two months.’’

Mr Ikedi Ezekwesiri (PDP-Umunneochi), who seconded the
motion, said it had become a curse for somebody to be asked to travel from Aba
end of Port Harcourt Road to Abia/Enugu boundary.

Other lawmakers, who spoke on the state of  the roads in the state, included, Ikechukwu
Nwabeke, Blessing Nwagba, Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka, Chilaka Onuoha, Uche Nwakpa
and John Ogele.

They maintained that the poor state of roads in Abia was
adversely affecting the economic and social lives of the people.

Ogele, representing Isuikwuato state constituency, suggested
that state lawmakers should meet with Abia legislators in the National Assembly
to work out how to tackle the problem.

The Speaker, Mr Ude Okochukwu, directed the Clerk to do a
letter inviting the state Commissioner for Works, the FERMA and Federal
Controller of Works in Abia State for a meeting on the matter, while  another letter should be done requesting Abia
members of the National Assembly for a meeting with the state assembly at a
convenient date.

Our Correspondent reports that the house resumed on Monday
September 17, after six weeks recess.