IPMAN Lauds FG Over Plans To Fix failed Portions Of Enugu-Onitsha

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed delight over plans of the Federal Government to rehabilitate badly damaged Ugwu-Onyeama axis of Enugu-Onitsha Expresses.Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community said this while speaking to journalists in Awka on Friday.The Enugu Depot Community in-charge of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.Anyaso said leadership of his association had a meeting with the Controller of Works in Enugu who assured them that remedial works would commence on the Enugu bound lane of the road.He said the repairs would be a great relief for petroleum marketers in the South East who have suffered huge financial and property losses as a result of road traffic accidents.The chairman said since the beginning of this year, over 20 product-laden tankers had fallen resulting in spill, fire and damage of vehicles due to bad roads .He said IPMAN had planned to stage a protest over the situation but commended the Federal Government for timely intervention.According to him, the planned repairs which we have been assured will start on Monday next week is a welcome development because members of IPMAN have suffered serious losses as a result of the bad road.”We are happy that the Federal Government is moving in, the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu has assured during our meeting with him that the Ugwu-Onyeama axis which has caused a lot of accidents will be repaired.”You know we rely on other depots for supply because Enugu depot has not been functioning for about 15 years, so good roads are important to us because it will reduce our business risk and also save the lives of millions of people.”We are using this opportunity to call to call on the Federal Government to heed our call for the repair of Enugu Depot which has been muribund for years, the repair and operationalisation of the depot will be a new lease of life for us” he said.Confirming the development, Mr Olufemi Oyekanmi, Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State confirmed that remedial work would commence at Ugwu-Onyeama to urgently address the problems faced by motorists in that area.Oyekanmi said the contract for 15klm from 9th mile had been awarded to RCC Nigeria Ltd with a state of the art bypass to also take care of the perennial traffic gridlock at 9th mile during yuletide seasons.He said while the remedial works would start on June 21 and will run till the end of the year, permanent execution of contract would commence in October after the rains.He said he had met with the leadership of IPMAN, Petroleum Tanker Drivers and other stakeholders in the Sector and informed them about the Federal Government’s plans to repair the badly damaged portions of the road.According to him, on Monday major repair works will start on the most critical areas of the road. As a matter of fact, we will start moving equipment and materials to that place.”The planned palliative or remedial works will solve the problem of accidents that are not related to recklessness around Ugwu-Onyeama and it will continue till the end of the year.”The remedial work is from 9th mile to Enugu on the Enugu bound lane “Contract for the 15 Km road has been awarded and full construction works will start in October when the rains will be over,” he said.