As if in fulfillment of his vow to turn Anambra State into a huge “construction yard”, Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday flagged of three bridges of 60, 45, and 45 meters on Atani-Ozubulu road, vowing to complete them within the life spam of his Government. The flag-off was preceded by the flag-off of many roads in the State as well as many other projects that set the people of the State wondering where he got the money to execute those projects.
Valued at the combined cost of over 2 Billion Naira, the bridges, excluding the 12kilometer roads component, are handled by TAMAD construction firm based on their satisfactory execution of Amansea-Ebenebe Bridge. Already, the Government is constructing the Onitsha-Ogbaru- Akiliozizar-Atani-Ogwuikpere road terminating at Rivers State. The over 60-Km Federal road with difficult terrain is costing the State more than 16 Billion Naira. With the construction of the stretch from Atani to Ozubulu, the entire areas would become accessible.
Speaking at the flag-off, Gov. Obi said that he would continue satisfy the yearnings of the people of the State till the last day of his Government. “We have seen those in authority flag-off many projects even when they did not safe money for their execution, but in our own case, for any project we are flagging of, we have saved money for that”, Obi said.
Speaking, the State Commissioner for Works, Arc Callistus Ilozumba said that the Atani Ozubulu road belonged to class of roads being constructed in difficult places that subsequent Anambra Governments shied away from because of the huge cost implication. “Some of the roads that belong to the same class as this are the Umuoba- Anam-nmiata road, roads in Ayamelum and parts of Anambra West,” the Commissioner submitted.
In his own remarks, a community leader in the area, Chief Michael Okendu said he was short of words to describe what God has done for Anambra State through the Government of Peter Obi. He said that nobody would have thought that Anambra Government would do the road under reference with three bridges. He prayed to God to answer Obi’s prayer that He gives Anambra State a successor better than him or at least as good as he is.
