Port Harcourt Road: Why Ikpeazu came close to tears

By Enynnaya Appolos

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, came close to tears when he saw, first hand, the deplorable state of Port Harcourt Road at Aba.

From the Ngwa Road end, the Governor's convoy, which included SUVs, was unable to pass the Uratta junction of the dilapidated and abandoned federal road.

Hold on, I will tell you why.

The convoy turned round at that terrible spot before Uratta junction and followed the Chima Nwafor road (reconstructed by the Ikpeazu administration) and hit Aba-Port Harcourt-Enugu Expressway before re-entering Port Harcourt road from Asannentu end and drove down to the same point-Uratta Junction by Port Harcourt Road, where there is a pool of very dirty water on the road. No vehicle can pass that point. Even keke can't pass. Those going to Asannentu from park will necessarily have to stop and trek across the bad spot and enter another keke that will take them to Asannentu. Those going to park from Asannentu will do same.

Now, what's the problem? Why do we still have a pool of water, as pictured here, along Port Harcourt road at this time of the year when we have experienced at least 3 months of dry weather?

It was discovered that most of those living around Uratta junction by Port Harcourt road channeled their soak-away pipes to the road. That is why we have a pool of very dirty smelling water at that portion of the road.

When the commissioner for works told the Governor about this, he came very close to tears...how on earth will a normal and sane human being discharge effluent water mixed with faecal matter and urine  from his 4 story building of 8 flats to a road used by the public?

Sad indeed!

Anyway, it should be noted that Port Harcourt road is a federal road, and the Governor had hoped that the federal government will fix it. But with signals from Minister Fashola's office in Abuja indicating that they're not ready to fix the road, at least in the immediate foreseeable future, Governor Ikpeazu in keeping faith with Abia people has decided to give the job of fixing PH road to Setraco Construction Company.

We should all be assured that the high quality construction work currently going on at Ifeobara basin area (ukwu mango) off Faulks Road will soon be replicated along Port Harcourt when Setraco finally move to site.

For our brothers and Sisters living or doing business along Port Harcourt road and its environs, your days of suffering on that road are coming to an end. Just like the Governor promised those of you who met him yesterday, he will fix the road, but that will come with huge sacrifices. So, let's be ready and prepared.

Within four weeks work will commence along PH road Aba courtesy of the Ikpeazu administration.

• Enyinnaya Appolos writes from Isiko