Going round Imo state, in the rural and urban areas will leave one with the conclusion that the state is at the brink of collapse vis-a-vis state of deplorable roads.
Two days ago, when we were listening to the radio stations in their phone-in programs, we were surprised to learn that most of the stations talked about the worrisome state of Imo roads, hence the need to join our voices to ensure that the roads are fixed with emergency.
Time to declare state of emergency on Imo roads ought to have been yesterday, where every other infrastructure development work must be kept in the parking lot until all the roads in the state are constructed with the needed attention.
If the needful is not done, Imo may cave in. God forbid. It is also embarrassing that in the 21st century, we are still talking about fixing roads, talking about controlling flood, talking about simple drainage system when other countries are busy thinking about how to drive in the air.
The government of the day must show sincerity in pulling the state out of the quagmire of near collapse state occasioned by not well constructed roads.
News Echo thinks that if quality materials are used in the road constructions, it would save the state roads, ensure longevity of the roads, reduce the huge amount used in maintaining the roads among others.
A situation where little potholes are ignored, is unhealthy. Those little potholes are the dreadful gullies one sees. The ministry of works needs to up their game in doing remedial road repairs. Do they need the executive to give them the matching orders to fix the roads? Let that order come now.
The drainage system needs to be looked into, the way the roads are constructed made one wonder if professionals are deployed. Usually roads are constructed addressing the camber, it is not the case here. What one sees is a table-land kind of road construction that log the waters once it rains.
With the level of deterioration of the roads in the urban cities, News Echo does not want to imagine what the local communities are going through.
Last Tuesday, the residents of Umuguma in Owerri West local government area protested over the deplorable state of their roads neglected by the government. The residents of Nekede, MCC Uratta roads, Orji, Amakohia in Owerri North, those living at Egbu, World bank areas have been turned water collectors and swimmers once it rains.
If the government waits the dry season to started, without having to fix the little aspect of the roads, it may not still finish the array of roads begging for attention even when the rain stops.
If nothing is done to solve the issue of flooding, then the government should not only be ready to fix the roads but also ready to spend more money repairing the roads that will be washed away by flood. Road construction without proper drainage system that collects the water away from the roads would be like one washing ones hand with dirty water.
News Echo urges the government of the day to, as a matter of necessity whose child is invention, thinker a drastic way to addressing the deplorable state of the roads. A remedial work on the potholes may save the state from collapse.
There should be emergency executive meeting solely to bringing lasting solution to the bad roads that constantly drag the state to a brink.
