From Karen James,
Nnewi
Following the expectation of the rainy season in Anambra state, especially in Onitsha, the roads and their environs have become a death trap to road users and motorists alike where gullies, potholes, blocked drainages, dumped refuse on the road, damaged culverts among others have dotted the length and breadth of the town, the residents have cried out to the government of Willie Obiano to come to their rescue.
Speaking on the state of roads, a keke driver, Mr. Kingsley Udeh said that the amount of money the government generates from internal revenues from commercial motorist operators through tickets and permits is enough to give Onitsha city a good road network as obtained in the neighboring states of Enugu and Delta. He said that the Anambra state government is busy mounting street lights and traffic control lights at every junction without first reconstructing the bad portions on those roads making mockery of the whole infrastructure development policies they embarked on.
A resident, Mr. Iwunna Diwes who spoke with Echo News wondered why the government would be collecting taxes from shop owners in the markets, taxes from companies, industries and corporate bodies within the city, building rates from landlords and environmental taxes from private individuals and tenants alike but cannot fix the roads those tax payers use. He regretted the nonchalant attitude of the state government in bettering the lives of its citizens. What do they use all the money they have been collecting for, he asked?
He noted that as the rain starts, the whole roads will be death traps to motorist and pedestrians alike, adding that Anambra state government must declare emergency on road construction and rehabilitation throughout the Onitsha metropolis and beyond to better the lives of its citizens.
Important roads in the city with bad portions leading to markets like New market road leading to Onitsha main market, Okwei/ Moor Street road leading to Onitsha main market, Niger street/Haruna/bridge head road with dilapidated culvert leading to Onitsha main market, Ziks avenue road leading to Ochanga market, Upper Iweka road leading to Ochanja market, Mgbuka Obosi auto spare parts road, Obodoukwu road leading to Ogbaru main market , 33 college road leading to Nwafor Orizu college of education others are internal street roads of Awada, Odoakpu, Nkpor,woliwo, okpoko, Fegge, Akpaka areas of the city are without adequate good road network.
