Delta: Motorists decry worsening condition of Asaba/Kwale/Ughelli Road

Motorists plying the Asaba/Kwale/Ughelli Road have decried the deplorable state of the Road, especially with deep potholes which has made it death traps to unsuspecting motorists/travelers.

Investigation revealed that every day there is hue and cry of regrets by motorists who often times crash into the
deep holes either fortunate to be out or have their vehicles damaged.

Expectedly, the current situation of the road which contract was awarded by the State Government some years back in the cost of N4billion, has degenerated into terrible and impassable road. Some commercial bus drivers who spoke to our reporter, one of them, Kennedy Oborah lamented the death traps as a result of the deep potholes that littered every parts of the road.

While calling on the state government to ensure solution to the road, Mr. Oborah said “we cannot drive through this road again after Ozoro to Ughelli, the situation had degenerated with death traps”.
Expectedly, the contracting firm (name withheld), among other things was alleged to have collected the huge sums of N4billion and disappeared without works.

But only recently, that State Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye told journalists that the contractor would soon be brought to book, adding that under the leadership of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the contract works were being reviewed to ensure motorists can ply the road even though the road stands a federal government’s responsibility.

Also speaking, Mr. Friday Chikerem, a bus driver who plies the road often, blamed the deplorable condition of the road on the state government, adding that during nightfall, the road portends difficulty particularly the failed portions close to the entrance of Mopol 31 base around Ogwashi-Uku.

He appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid as the road had resulted a disaster to the motorists.

It would be recalled that the road was shared into three sections, and awarded to three contractors. But this is not to be as two of the contractors (names withheld) abandoned the project after allegedly collecting huge sums of money running into billions of naira.

Meanwhile, the perennial flood in Obiaruku modern market may soon come to an end as the Engineer responsible for the project (CCC Firm) has commenced works.

A team of Engineers, led by Engr. Tony Okwe has begun to understudy the erosion problem in the market. A statement from the office of the Executive Director, DESOPADEC, Mr. Ochor Ochor, a copy made available to our reporter, said the team of experts will carry out a comprehensive study of the existing drainage network, within and outside the market, and from the result of the study, they will carry out the necessary correction such as breaking and reconstruction of some sections of the existing drainage to allow for free flow of water.

However, observation from a visit to the market showered that many sections of the existing drainage were blocked and water cannot freely flow to the drainage point.

The Obiaruku market is the only major market in Ukwuani Local Government Area, and serves not only the people of the area, but also from the neighbouring Local Government Areas, and Edo State.

The market has a major problem of flooding which has caused untold hardship to the traders, and visitors, as millions of goods had been lost as a result of it.

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba