From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

Related News

Imo State residents and motorists have decried the poor state of road infrastructure in the state, saying “we have never had it so bad.
A resident of Umuguma in Owerri West Council Area, Frank Anele, who spoke with Sunday Sun said:  “All the access roads in and out of the state have collapsed. You can’t drive through the Hospital road right now because it has become a nightmare in this rainy season. The contractor hired to expand the road has long abandoned it. Also the other alternative access to Umuguma which is World Bank assisted project has equally collapsed. So, whenever it rains, people are stranded.”
The story is not different for those who live at Egbu and Emekuku axis of the Owerri /Mbaise road. According to Njoku Ambrose, the poor state of the roads in the area has led to hike in transport fares.  His words: “We are told that the road is a federal road, but it is the indigenes of the state that use it. I think it is the responsibility of the state government to make it motorable and then ask the Federal Government for a refund as done by other state governments.”
Anukam Chijioke, a Keke operator, lamented the prohibitive maintenance cost they have been grappling with owing to poor state of the roads. He appealed to the state government to repair the roads to save them the agony of going to the mechanic workshop every day.
Mr. Chibuike Ozoemene on his part, commended Governor Rochas Okorocha for creating many access roads in the state but blamed the present state of the roads on poor design.