The famous Afro beat king late Fela Anikulapo Kuti in one of his hit tracks said it is tears, sorrow and blood. This aptly describes what the inhabitants of the commercial city of Aba are passing through as a result of various road construction projects going on in the city.
When the present administration of the state came on board, the inhabitants were promised good roads and rehabilitation of those not maintained by previous administration.
The administration did not renege on her promises and embarked on the completion of some link road like Omni drive, M.C.C Link road. But the ovation that greeted the sagacity of the state government had hardly died down than the inhabitants started feeling the pains of many roads in the city under construction.
The decision by the state government to construct a fly over bridge at Osisioma has also continued to cause untold hardship to motorists and pedestrians. Apart from the fact that all the stalls and shops at the junction were demolished many complained that the state government did not relocate them. Mrs. Adaku Ibeze said that her shop was demolished to make way for the construction; my family have suffered a lot, as the bread winner I can no longer place food on the table talkless of paying my children fees, for one full term my children have been out of school.
For Vicent Ibe trader who deals on confectioneries it was a tale of woe. My shed was pulled down, I have been thrown out of business my last resort is to join tricycle operators to make ends meet.
Apart from the many business men displaced at the junction, the coming rainy season will make matters worse. It will be another nightmare at the junction; a thug of war for both motorist and pedestrians. After any downpour it will is extremely difficult to access the junction from the NNPC depot. The flooding at the junction during the last rainy season was such that riding in a tricycle you must lift your legs or you will be painted with flood water. Workers at the NNPC depot who pleaded anonymity said they no longer go to work on shoes since the construction started whenever there is rain you must almost swim to access the road.
Motorist coming into the city and those going out had complained bitterly too. Mr. Boniface Okwor a commercial driver said they now waste up to 2 hours before crossing the junction. Once we approach the junction we must bear in mind that we will meet a gridlock that will last for hours. Mr. Okwor said that the state government would have created an alternative route before the construction of the fly over. He however said the project is a worthy venture but lamented that the tears and sorrow it cause drivers and passengers are much.
Also at Faulks road where construction is on-going, pedestrians, tricylists and motorist complained that work had stopped at the site that had created untold hardship for them and passengers.
Apart from the flyover bridge that the state government is yet to complete after many months of construction and its attendant economic hardship it had inflicted on the people, the state government had, to the surprise of many commenced construction work on the Port Harcourt road a major gate way to the commercial city which was flagged off by the state government Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu.
The road that cuts across many communities in the city, according to the construction plan is a six lane road with pedestrians walk way and modern facilities. The construction work had rendered many inhabitants of the city who are mostly traders jobless as their business have been paralyzed. Many buildings have been demolished by the state to make way for the construction work.
Mr. Joseph Okoli a trader along the road said that he had been thrown into untold financial hardship because the building housing his shop was demolished by the state government. He said he was surprised that the state government did not give them time to relocate or find an alternative.
He lamented that he had been thrown out of business. Said he; “I can no longer pay my children school fee or place food on the table.”
For Anayo Ibeli it was lamentation as he cried that the action of the state government had automatically sent him and his family home, how can I pay for house rent now that landlords have increased their bills. Mr. Ibeli said he has concluded plans to go back to his community as the state government has forcefully evicted him from Aba
Chief Oloka Ike a town planner faulted the way and manner the state administration is constructing roads in Aba. According to him there are lots of uncompleted roads in the city said he “It is extremely wrong to engage in too many roads without completion”. The practice is that you start a project and give the contractor period to deliver.
According to him the construction of Aba Owerri road is as old as the administration. Chief Ike said that it would have been advisable for the state government to first complete the Aba/Owerri road, the Osisioma fly over road bye pass before demolishing houses and sending traders into financial woods on the plog that she will give them a six lane road.
Mrs. Ifeoma Ekwenife a politician said the various uncompleted roads in Aba is a clear demonstration that the state government has failed. The governor as an Aba boy promised us that he understands our plight but until now we are still waiting to see him transform Enyimba City.
Mr. Ekwenife stated that the number of traders and artisans thrown into financial oblivion is such that in no distant time the commercial nature of the town will disappear. She further said that with the administration winding its first tenure it cannot boast of completing a major road project in the city. All the state had succeeded is to construct few ¼ kilometer roads that are not major roads in Aba. Until the state government give us a brand new Aba/Owerri Road to the inhabitants of Enyimba City the much said about road construction in Aba will continue to be an illusion.
Mr. Okoli Igwe a business man in the city said the speedy completion of the unending road projects will enable traders displaced to find new shops and stalls to continue their business. According to him it is the people that will use the good roads and not the existence of good road without people using them.
But the state government on it’s part said that what the administration is doing is to deliver to the people of Enyimba City roads that will stand the taste of time. Government is mindful of the topography of the city and will not hurriedly embark on construction of roads that will not conform to international norms for road construct. A government spokesman said the people will feel the pain on doubt but at the end the city will had road networks that will last for a long time.
