The Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Okey Ezeobi, has said Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s relationship with President Bola Tinubu has attracted major federal infrastructure projects worth billions of naira to the state.
Ezeobi made the remarks during a press conference at his office in Awka on Wednesday, where he discussed road construction projects and credited the state’s partnership with the Federal Government for increased infrastructure investment.
He said Anambra had witnessed an unprecedented level of federal government projects since its creation, citing the Nkwelle Ezunaka bypass linking the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to the Second Niger Bridge, estimated to cost about ₦180 billion.
He also identified the Anambra-Abaji-Kogi-Abuja road as another major project, saying it would reduce travel time between Anambra and Abuja by five hours.
He said: “Anambra and the entire South East have never had it so good. All these things are because of the partnership the governor has built with the federal government. You may not like the politics of the governor, but I want to tell you that no one loves Anambra more than the governor and that is what the governor thinks about everyday.
“The governor knows what he is doing and Anambra people are gaining from that partnership. The level of Federal Government presence in Anambra is unprecedented. Since the creation of Nigeria, we have never experienced this level of infrastructure and this is because of the synergy we have in the state now through Mr Governor and the Federal Government.
“Today you can drive on concrete road from 82 division in Enugu straight into Anambra. This is something that was not possible previously. That is the level of investment we have witnessed. There is now a bypass from Nkwelle Ezunaka to the second Niger Bridge through Ogbunike, Ogidi and Obosi. The construction in the Anambra end is costing the federal government N180billion. We have never had it this good.
“The Anambra West, Abaji is another game changer that the president is giving us, which will shorten travel to five hours from Awka to Anambra. That means you can travel to Abuja from Anambra and return the same day.”
Ezeobi also disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the construction of two flyover bridges at Regina Caeli Junction and the second gate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka.
He said the projects followed representations by Soludo to the President over the need to address road safety concerns and improve traffic movement at the locations.
He said: “The president has just approved a flyover at Regina Caeli. The governor went to him and told him about the numerous accident there and he approved two flyovers. One at Unizik second gate and one at Regina Caeli.”
On concerns over the quality of roads constructed by the Soludo administration, Ezeobi maintained that most of the projects met the required standards, attributing isolated cases of road failure to construction errors and other factors.
He disclosed that the state government had awarded contracts for 908.044 kilometres of roads, with 742 kilometres already asphalted.
According to him, the administration had awarded 143 road contracts, adding that the ministry would publish detailed statistics of its road construction activities.
“Today, we have awarded 908.044 kilometers of roads and have so far asphalted 742km. All the last three governors put together have not achieved this. We have given out 143 road contracts in Anambra. Very soon we will put out the statistics of road construction out there. This is ministry of works and we have all the documents and there are public documents. We will do this so that people will see what this govt has done in road infrastructure.
“Once in a while, we see people talking about failed road, but all the failed spots put together is not up to 5 Km. What it means is that over 99percent is perfect. So that is pass mark.”
The commissioner attributed reported road failures in some locations to factors including indiscriminate refuse dumping, blocked drainage channels, breakdowns of heavy-duty vehicles, poor water channelling from residential buildings and inadequate green spaces.
David-Chyddy Eleke
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