Awka Roads: We Choose Portholes To Avoid, Fall Into —Residents
The deplorable condition of roads in Awka, the capital town of Anambra has become a source of concern to many as most of them are now completely collapsed and motorists’ nightmare.
Unfortunately, these roads are strategic to movement within the town and can hardly be avoided by road users.
Some of these roads but not limited to them are Arroma- Secretariat; Ukwuaki-Commissioners’ Qtrs through Ukwuoji and Aromma-McDons-Rainoil through Amaku General Hospital.
Others are EzeUzu-Obinagu; Works Road through Amikwo and the entire Arthur Avenue Stretch to Eke-Awka.
These roads present a harrowing experience to the road users who have to slow down and carefully choose between potholes and crater or risk the damage of their vehicles.
The condition of these roads is unbefitting for the capital of Anambra where the government is saying it is building a modern city and residents have called on the state government to address the increasing collapse of infrastructure.
Jude Agbo, a tricycle transport operator, said the bad roads were damaging their vehicles and making the cost of maintenance artificially high.
Agbo wondered why they had to ply bumpy roads in Awka in spite the tax they paid to the government.
“The roads in Awka are very bad, we are spending so much on maintenance in addition to the high cost of petrol, this is why the transport fare is high because we have to recover.
“For instance, going to Eke-Awka from Aromma is like hell, the entire Amudo by Amaku to Zik avenue is not motorable, the same thing for Ifite Road through Amaenyi,” he said.
Nnamdi Okoye , a Civil Servant said it was unfair that the road leading to the state and federal Secretariats is in a collapsed state while the Emeka Anyaoku road leading to Government House is in best condition.
Okoye called on Soludo to declare a state of emergency on Awka roads to ease the movement of people and services within and around the 35 years old capital town.
“This is not acceptable, we have the state government here, we have the Awka So South Local Government Council here and Awka Capital Territory Development Authority but the entire roads have collapsed.
“Ukwuaki to Commissioners’ Qtrs was fixed recently but it has collapsed, look at Arthur Eze Avenue, the road has been cut into two in some sections, people are using it now because of the efforts of some individuals who did palliative things.
“You cannot drive for 30 seconds without falling into a gallop or avoiding them, it’s very sad,” he said.
Nonso Bigman, a social media user who weighed in on the condition of roads in Awka advised the governor to shun politics but deliver good roads in line with APGA manifesto.
He said most drainages in the state capital were blocked and were causing the flooding which was ravaging the capital city.
According to him, I am not a sycophant. Imagine the kind roads we have in Awka, the capital of Anambra state.
“Igwebuike road, SM Okeke road, works road, Obunagu road, Ichide road, Umuorama road, Amaku road, Amaenyi Girls road, Ifite road, Umuike road from Nkwelle Awka.
“The same thing in Amawbia, Obi Avenue Amawbia, Ezimezi Ama Hausa road, Ngene road
all need government attention,” he said.
