In recent times many concrete roads and flyovers have been constructed in different areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria, Africa, by the Nigerian and Ebonyi government in an attempt to modernize the state and ensure that such structures last a very long time, as reported by Uchenna Inya, New Telegraph E-Newspaper-Nigeria. Previously, roads in Ebonyi State have been constructed with traditional asphalt, but failed, did not last, and ultimately became impassable, forcing Governor David Umahi, Administrator-State of Ebonyi (since 2015), to introduce the ‘Rigid Pavement’ system. Rigid Pavement system is using concrete to construct roads to ensure they last longer and many roads in the state have now been constructed with the new technology.
The failed roads—scattered across the 13 local government areas of the Ebonyi as well as the capital of Abakaliki have been reconstructed with the system. More roads in the state—especially the ring road that connects 8 out of the 13 local government areas in the state—have been flagged by the government to use the new technology.
After signing an agreement between the state government & contractors
for the award of the 1st phase of the ring road to be constructed
using the Rigid Pavement technology, Governor Umahi said
“…the project must be done in the best of quality in rigid pavement”
& assured the contractors adequate security within their lots
for uninterrupted project execution.
Governor Umahi stated, “It has been a very long journey, a very tedious one, and I must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the 199-kilometer Abakaliki Ring Road passing through 8 local government areas. We are very thankful to you … because this project is a reality. This project is very dear to me, has components of Community Social Responsibility, with each of the lots having 2.5 kilometers of internal road to be built with the same standards.”
In a live broadcast to the people of the state, Governor Umahi commended Chief Jim Nwobodo, Former Governor-Old Anambra State (now Enugu State) and Chief Martin Elechi, Former Governor-Ebonyi State, for constructing and maintaining the ring road (which later failed, according to him). He commended President Buhari for his assistance in his effort to reconstruct the ring road.
Governor Umahi said, “We have successfully completed phase one of the processes of the famous Abakaliki Ring Road, and we must first thank His Excellency, Jim Nwobodo, who initially spoke of this and constructed the road. Because of a paucity of funds at that time, and Chief Martin Elechi who also worked assiduously on the maintenance of the road … President Buhari has been good to Ebonyi State and has helped Ebonyi State tremendously [by refurbishing these roads].”
“I have flagged off the intervention projects totaling about 10 kilometers in Ozzizza and Mater roads, Oriuzo to the Airport Road, and Ngbo to Okwo Market Road. These promises were made in the 2015 campaign, [although] it is not an easy thing, it is not convenient for us, but we must keep our promises, this we must do.”
In his remarks, Dakoru Atukpa, Contractor, expressed satisfaction for being considered worthy of executing the project and assured that they would abide by all specifications and deliver on schedule. He called on other governors to see Governor Umahi as an example in his ingenuity to develop their states, instead of relying solely on receipts from the Federation Account.
In different parts of the state, the government has also constructed over 12 flyovers with some still on-going. The flyovers are:
• Presco, constructed over the Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway
• Akanu Ibiam flyover constructed on the Tran-Sharan Highway
• International Market flyover also constructed on the Tran-Sharan Highway
• Ezzamgbo Junction flyover constructed on the Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway
• Nkalagu flyover also located on Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway
• Uburu flyover constructed opposite new Medical University on Uburu/Mpu/Ishiagu Road
• An additional flyover constructed past the Medical University in the same area
• Abaomege flyover constructed on the Afikpo/Abakaliki highway among others.
The flyovers that are currently under construction in the state include
• Edda Hill, located in Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state which is nearing completion
• Amasiri flyover
• International Airport flyover
During the live broadcast, Umahi said: “Our on-going flyovers have an average construction period, grade 40 concrete, and 9 to 12 months remain. The last two flyovers to be constructed are in Afikpo, another by Ogbe Hausa junction, and [all of the ongoing projects including the Edda flyover, are all very near completion. The most difficult is Edda flyover, which involved the most workers, is 70% complete]; we will finish it before the end of [2021]; and we will deploy it.”
Apart from the flyovers and concrete roads, the government has completed many other projects—shopping mall, new Medical University, modern hospital complex—and an International Airport has reached an advanced stage of construction. Chief Ukie Ezeali, Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation-Ebonyi stated that the University Teaching Hospital will provide jobs for 10,000 Nigerians, remedying much of the unemployment problems.
Chief Ezeali said, “This hospital has the capacity to create over 10,000 jobs within its valuechain and transform the economy of the host community and contribute immensely to reduce unemployment in Ebonyi and Nigeria in general. We have technologies used for the project which give rise to technology transfer and Aluco Board and other specialized work. There are fascinating male and female hostels, with over 1,000 students’ capacity each.” He added that a solar power plant was also on standby; a four-storey build containing 66 two-bedroom flats for junior staff, another four-story building containing 46 3-bedroom flats for senior staff, and a magnificent ultra-modern school block with an administrative ‘Utility Building’ for the University Administrator and university staff with a supermarket and pharmaceutical store.
He added, “All departments and sections of the university will be an independent gated community with its own installed power plant. Solar energy street lights and generator powered street lights will be all over the school to ensure excellent visibility at night.”
For the New Telegraph E-Newspaper-Nigeria ARTICLE titled “Ebonyi: A State Where Concrete Roads Hold Sway”, please go to: www.newtelegraphng.com/ebonyi-a-state-where-concrete-roads-hold-sway/
Home Photo: The ongoing reinforced concrete road pavement is going-on for an eight km (8km) section along Edda Amasiri Okposi Onisha Isu Enugu Road. Naira Land Online News “Governor Dave Umahi Is Real Mr Projects…”: www.nairaland.com/5211293/governor-dave-umahi-real-mr