From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The reconstruction of the dilapidated portion of the Oji Urban -Achi-Awgu federal road, extending from Oji town junction to the Nigeria Police College, an estimated distance of one kilometre, is enhancing easy transportation across Oji Urban to several towns within Enugu state and the neighbouring towns in Anambra and Abia states.
It has also re invented the beauty and shape of the popular Oji junction,the gateway to Achi and Into towns at Oji Urban.
Prior to its reconstruction,vsome commercial vehicles avoided using the road because of bumps. The rusty- dusty nature of the road during dry seasons posed serious health hazards to traders at the Oji Ur an market,the motor parks and shop owners along the route. Whereas,the pool of flood water it retains during rainy season due to poor drainage was an eye sore and derailed commercial activities.
The new Oji River local government area administration under Hon. Greg. Anyaegbudike, saw the problem as a major challenge to the socio economic growth of the entire Oji River local government area and a hindrance to effective transport system from and across Oji River Urban to other towns.
Though it is a federal road but he took the bull by the horn. Three months after the project’ was flagged off, the vision and commitment has turned into reality. Hon. Anyaegbudike has joined the group of Council Chairmen in Enugu state,who constructed ashphalted road, even as Oji River local government area is still struggling to have a viable means of raising it’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
In partnership with Federal Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA), the current Oji River Council administration under the watch of Hon. Greg. Anyaegbudike, has controlled the incessant flooding of the Oji Urban market and motor parks by reconstructing an underground culvert into which all the flood erosions descending from Achi road and the ‘Holy Hills’ Cathedral, Diocese of Oji River, are channelled into the river
This particular achievement has curtailed the problems of commutters along this route and environmental hazards experienced by shop owners at Oji ‘Wonderful market’ along Achi road,
The reconstruction of the road exposes the beauty and natural environment of the sloppy Oji River T junction off Enugu to Onitsha old road.
The Oji-Achi -Awgu road originally was constructed by the British colonial administration. Presently, it is the major tarmac to network of roads linking many communities in Orumba,Aguata, Nnewi local government areas,etc inAnambra state through Inyi town, Akpugoeze and Awlaw communities in Oji River local government area of Enugu state.
The Oji -Achi- Awgu road traverses across many communities in Achi,including institutions like the famous Girls High School Achi now called Girls Grammar School Achi, Corpus Christi College Achi, the Achi General Hospital, Ekegbo market Achi and the famous Veterinary Farm School Achi, before transcending into Mgbowo,Nmaku and some other towns in Awgu local government area and Aninri local government area,joining the Enugu to Onitsha express road.
The importance of the Oji-Achi-Awgu federal road in enhancing interconnectivity between Enugu state and some neighbouring towns in Anambra,Abia and partially Imo states encourages inter related commercial activities among the people and socio economic growth of the three states.
The federal government’s intervention on the maintenance of this particular road is highly expected. Currently,it is the major tarmac that links several towns in three states,namely Abia, Anambra and Imo statesi The implication is constant wear and tear due to increasing daily traffic on it.
Meanwhile, the Federal Lawmaker representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constiuency,Hon.Engr.Anayo Onwuegbu, FNSE, intervention on the damaged portion beside Achi Joint Hospital, has prevented the Achi-Awgu axis of the tarmac from dividing into two,this current dry season.
The technocrat cum politician, Hon.Engr.Onwuegbu, brought in earth moving equipment that successfully refilled the deep gutter created by soil erosion,which threatened to cut the tarmac into two.
He also facilitated the construction of drainages along the Achi Joint Hospital, into which further floods along the route are channelled.
