2016 budget and the worsening state of South East roads

With the assent of the 2016 appropriation Act by President Muhammad Buhari on May 6, the people With the assent of the 2016 appropriation Act by President Muhammad Buhari on May 6, the people
of south-east geopolitical zone are strongly anticipating that the Federal Government will rescue them from the deplorable condition of their roads. Known for their commercial and industrial prowess, the Federal Government roads in their region form major arteries that propel economic activities which contribute to the nations overall Gross Domestic Product,GDP.


•South East roads…failed portions of 9th Mile corner roundabout A copious assessment of roads especially the Aba-Ikot Ekpene and Enugu-Ontisha express roads, showed that the Federal Government abandoned the reconstruction projects two years ago while the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan embarked on a window dressing, posing to be rehabilitating the road at the peak of the 2015 electioneering campaigns to woo unsuspecting voters. The Enugu-Onitsha dual carriage road is now completely impassable as weeds and portholes mark the roads. Motorists now resort to Old road, plying Udi-Oji-River to connect Awka, Anambra State even as sections of 9th Mile Corner road have been washed-off following tonnages from heavy duty trucks which meander to Nigeria Brewery to load alcoholic beverages. Major portions at the round-about area are threatened by erosion which if not tackled swiftly may well cut-off the road entirely. The prevailing situation has jacked up cost of fares to above two hundred percent margin. Manhours which should have been channeled to productive ventures are being dissipated crisscrossing through the Old Road to the detriment of the economy. ABANDONMENT OF 2nd NIGER BRIDGE The signed budget by the Federal Government was expected to feature some monetary allocation for the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge muted by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, but unfortunately the allocation for the construction of the bridge is missing. The bridge,which is the gateway to western and other parts of the countries has been used by successive governments as a bargaining chip during electioneering campaigns. Nothing happens after such campaigns. During festive season, passengers spend hours on the now wobbling bridge to get to their respective villages. Member,Board of Governors,Civil Liberty Organisation,CLO, Danjuma Gambo,said,”I just want to believe that the information is not quite true that not capturing of the 2nd Niger Bridge in the 2016 budget, it means it has been abandoned, this is because it will be ridiculous that the Federal Government would have forgotten such a sensitive and important project for the people of South East and South South and Nigerians in general. “I want to assume, a big assumption, that it is in the budget, but per adventure is not there, it can’t be explained to anybody, because we do not have the budget breakdown, we just heard about the big figures, we do not have the different allocations, so we do not know the details of those allocations and therefore they should tell us what happened. “It will be a total disservice to South East, South South and Nigeria in general to abandon the bridge, I was listening to the Presidents first Media Chat where he asked who are marginalizing the Ibos and how? He asked that question and this issue of alleged abandonment of 2nd Niger Bridge is one example of the marginalisation. S’EAST PDP GOVS BLAST FG Leaders of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,and governors of the south-east last Monday,rose from a meeting in Enugu Government House and warned against awarding road contracts in South East to incompetent contractors. Speaking on behalf of the Leaders, Deputy Senate President,Ike Ekweremadu said that they have vowed to ensure full implementation of the 2016 budget as signed, to enable south-east people, benefit in the area of roads especially for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha and Aba-Ikot Ekpena express roads that are death traps to motorists. “We are here to discuss certain issues as they affect us here in the south-east. We reviewed the response of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to the recent attack on Nimbo community and commended him. “Most of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP are back in their places. We reviewed ways of finding a lasting solution for the protection of our people against further fulani herdsmen attacks. We want to seize this opportunity to condole with the victims and are putting measures in place to forestall a repeat. “We equally reviewed the 2016 budget that has been signed to ensure that it will be implemented to the fullest. Our concern is on the area of roads especially the Enugu-Onitsha, Aba-Ikot Ekpena express roads among others that are death traps. “The Federal Government had in the past,awarded contracts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of these roads to incompetent contractors. This time,we will ensure that competent contractors will handle the road projects to give our people a sense of belonging”. ELECTION PROMISES Although the south-east people did not overwhelmingly vote for Buhari in the last general election,the All Progressives Congress,APC had promised the reconstruction of federal roads including the 2nd Niger Bridge. It went further to promise 1million jobs in the region through the resuscitation of Coal to Electric Powered Plant. The federal government will do well to calm frayed nerves in the region by establishing its presence especially in the area of roads to give the people a sense of belonging in the Nigeria nation.