Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, weekend, raised alarm over worsening state of federal roads in the south-east geopolitical zone, saying they are nothing short of death traps and have brought socio-economic activities to a standstill.
Ugwuanyi who spoke to Vanguard management team, during a courtesy visit at the Enugu Government House office, expressed concern on the pathetic situation of Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, among others that have inflicted pain on motorists plying the roads.
The governor said, “Look at the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, it’s completely dilapidated. Motorists have resorted to using old Udi-Oji road to make their journey to Anambra State. If you dare ply the expressway, a journey of forty minutes is now four harrowing hours.
“We have, at the level of governors, made presentation to President Muhammad Buhari calling for Federal Government’s immediate intervention on these roads.
“We are yet to see promises translate into physical action. As a concerned government with the interest of the people, I find it hard to sleep knowing the condition of those roads. The situation has drastically affected socio-economic activities of the people known for their undying spirit of industrialization, commerce, agriculture among others.”
Ugwuanyi also assured that the Enugu Diagnostic Centre which has reached eighty percent completion, would provide a buffer to the frequent medical tourism in the region occasioned by non-availability of state-of-the-art medical facilities even as it would restore confidence in treatment of terminal ailments common to the people.
He said “our government is people oriented. We cannot be seen to do things that do not add value and alleviate the sufferings of the people. That is why we have laid foundation stone for 2,000 Orba General Hospital with ultra-modern facilities. The population of patience in the metropolis has made it imperative for government to reason beyond its nose.
“When functional, people from the Enugu-North senatorial zone, Benue, Kogi states will profusely benefit. We are determined to entrench a responsive action from the government that will follow the electorates gains even though there is financial draught in the state.” (Vanguard)
