By Chuks Okeke
The state of federal roads in and around Enugu state calls for concern.
From the death traps at Ugwu Onyeama to Abakpa-Junction/Mami market end of the Enugu Onitsha expressway, the story is shameful.
The 9th-Mile/Nsukka expressway is in sorry state and long abandoned. Today all vehicles traveling to Nsukka, Abuja and other States of the North are forced through Ugwogo/Opi by-pass.
The heavy traffic and traffic jam on that road has forced the state government to embark on the construction of a flyover to reduce the stress and sufferings of road users.
All the federal roads in Enugu are in such bad condition that one wonders if the state still has representatives at the federal level.
Several deaths have been recorded and still being recorded as the nightmare continue to take its toll on both motorists and commutters.
But for the Millikin Hill road which was done and still maintained by the State government, there is no other motorable road in and out of Enugu.
Before now, most of these raods were maintained by the Enugu state government under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi but the decision by the federal government to end refund of federal road projects executed by states coupled with the dwindling resources of state fund may have affected state government attention.
We have not forgotten how the Ugwuanyi administration intervened along the Ugwuoba end of the Enugu/Awka old road. It was an intervention that attracted commendation from far and near at a time travellers spent over 12 hours on the road.
Yes, the FG decision may have forced Governors to use little funds available to concentrate on internal infrastructure.
But for a state that has quality National Assembly members, and a serving Minister Enugu residents and road users deserve to ask questions. What is the problem?
Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister for Foreign Affairs is yet take a bold step towards attracting federal presence to his state, yet this is his 6th years as a Minister.
Is it not yet morning, sir?To whom much is given, much is expected. Yes, your appointment may have been influenced from outside the state, yet you occupy that position of Enugu State in the National Executive Council and therefore answerable to the people.
There is always a day of reckoning, and the people are watching.
For our elected representatives at both Senate and House of Representatives, it’s a shame that you have remained silent in the face of this disaster.
You have unconcernedly watched while the people you represent’ suffer and die in road accidents which are regular on these death traps.
It’s better late than never and this writer is of the opinion that members of the National Assembly from Enugu State should for once arise and make case for the federal roads around the state.
A converted effort towards this will not only achieve positive results, it will also show that sense of responsibility for which the people reposed much confidence in you by voting you to represent them at that level of government.
Chuks Okeke, a public analyst wrote from Oji River.
