… Vol 1 Road Construction
By Nwamkpa Modestus (KSM)
In one week from now, Governor Hope Uzodimma will clock five years in office. Five years into an eight years tenure is quite some time and relatively enough time to assess the progress report of any government. No doubt, this five year has been eventful as it has been remarkable. It has been five years of turbulence and smooth sailing. It has been five years of mounting expectations and substantial realization of many of such expectations in our state. We shall be looking at it sector by sector moving forward and today we shall be talking about Road construction
However, it is important we understand where we were before last five years as a state and where we are today. Recall that prior to the time the Governor assumed office in January 15, 2020, there was no single motorable road in the entire Imo state. What we had then was the generally known as ‘China Roads’. Many of the roads both urban and rural were either completely impassible or you could drive through them on a snail speed due to the deplorable nature of many of them.
Maybe, we may have forgotten so soon the popular Ekemele spot along Okigwe road. This particular place could stagnate movement of motorists for the whole day or dragged into the next day. Travelling through that Okigwe road was nightmarish. Today, the story is different. You can spend just 30 minutes to drive from Owerri to Okigwe end as against over 5 to 6 hours spent by motorists before the last five years. This is remarkable.
Perhaps we may also have forgotten in a jiffy the condition of MCC road and its adjoining Chukwuma and other roads. Infact, many landlords in that area had parked out of their houses due to excessive and seeming uncontrollable flooding around those areas. Living around that area was hellish. This was before the last five years. This was before Governor Uzodimma introduced a novel technological flood control mechanism known as Balloon Technology. I am sure that all landlords and residents in those areas will forever appreciate this man called Governor Hope Uzodimma for being an instrument God used to answer their prayers.
Should I remind us about the situation of our Orlu road especially around Njaba bridge? Or should I also talk about the impassable federal Secretariat Road or do I need to recall your forgetful mind or senses about the condition of Nekede/Ihiagwa road which the second phase is ongoing after the completion of the first phase? These were terribly bad roads before the last five years but whose conditions have today changed for the better, all thanks to the administrative ingenuity and sincerity of purpose of a leader in the person of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
What Governor Uzodimma has done in Owerri zone, he has replicated in both Orlu and Okigwe zones. The standard of his road construction is the same across the state. It is an undeniable fact that this is the first time that Imo state is witnessing the installation of solar street lights in every of the roads done by any Governor in this state both living and dead. There is no road done by Governor Hope Uzodimma that does not have street lights end to end.
At the last count, the Governor has completed well over 250 killometers of roads across the state. This is quite commendable, to say the least.
I want to say unequivocally that Imo has not had it this good in Road construction and I say this with every sense of responsibility and truth. The Governor has really performed wonderfully well in the area of road construction as he has, no doubt written his name in gold in this state.
Truthfully Yours, Nwamkpa Modestus is my name and I approve of this piece.
