Public infrastructure: Ohanaeze chieftain, Isiguzoro sets agenda for new Works Minister, Umahi
By Chijindu Emeruwa
The Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has set an agenda to the newly-nominated Minister of Works and the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Dave Umahi as he recently assumed office in the federal ministry in Abuja.
Isiguzoro, while interacting with a cross section of journalists in Aba at the weekend drew the attention of the new minister of works on the dilapidation of road infrastructure in most states in southeast geopolitical zone, and lamented the bad roads adorning in the region has continued to caused huge ecological devastations in some rural communities and urban areas, regrettably, wanton destruction of lives and properties of people of the region, including visitors traveling to southeast.
He also regretted the dilapidated condition of road infrastructure in southeast had led to several cases of road accident, and pointed out the pathetic fatal accident which occured along umuahia-ikot ekpene road federal road, leading to unfortunate killing of a final year student of Fishery in Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia state by trailer truck driver who lost control on the bad portion of the federal highway road.
Mr Isiguzoro also recalled another multiple road accident in Enugu state in southeast Nigeria where six persons lost their lives.
According to him, “The accident, which involved a crude oil tanker, an SUV, a Hiace bus and a fully-loaded truck, occurred along Ninth Mile-Ugwu Onyeama Road in the state. Reports had it that the ugly scenario occurred when the crude oil tanker had a head-on collision with the truck carrying cement.
“There are many other cases of fatal road accidents which occurs in daily basis on our highways in southeast zone. And the major cause of al these ugly incidents is attributable to current sorry state of federal road Infrastructure adorning in eastern part of this country, which also, past successive government in the country neglected and abandoned at the detriment of people of the zone.
“Apart from the ugly condition of federal roads, there are so many moribund critical infrastructure that need urgent revitalization so as to engender socio-economic and Infrastructural growths in the southeast, and in all other geopolitical zones in Nigeria,”he added.
While decrying the incessant recorded cases of fatal accidents on highways in southeast which it had been attributed to long-aged dilapidated status of federal roads within the zone, Isiguzoro noted that it would amount to a total disservice to igbo nation should the current Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who is also one of the finest igbo leaders fail to use his revered office to engender massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of deplorable federal roads within the southeast region.
The ex-National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide further described the immediate-past Governor of Ebonyi State, as a true illustrious igbo son and servant-leader whose capacity, competence and expertise are not in doubts towards delivering national assignment bestowed on him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government in the country.
His words: “It’s an undisputable fact that His Excellency, Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi, has demonstrated capacities in present democratic leadership of Nigeria. And his then administration as state Governor, Ebonyi witnessed total genuine transformation especially, in state’s economy, infrastructure, security including the state education system and health delivery system. His administration’s developmental strides are too numerous to mention because of want of time.
“I call on the new Nigerian Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi to serve as a rallying point between the APC led federal government and people of igbo nation by ensuring government’s attention is drawn to the numerous dilapidated road infrastructure scattering in southeast which had continued to pose as deathtraps, not only to indigenous people of southeast but to visitors who are coming in southeast by those bad roads within our land. He must ensure most of these deplorable road are reconstructed to guarantee ease transportation of goods and service”.
Isiguzoro who also used the fora to assure the full support and cooperation of people of the igbo ethnic nationality to the present federal government in the country towards ensuring the successful implementation of its developmental policy thrusts and agendas in all states in southeast zone, and for the nation at large.
