By Izunna Okafor, Awka
A concerned citizen of Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State has called on the State Government to expedite and complete the erosion control project along the Ozubulu axis of the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway as the climax of the rainy season gradually sets in.
The resident, who made the call while spoke in an interview with our reporter under the condition of anonymity, expressed fears that dire consequences may result therefrom if the project is left at its present condition or lingers uncompleted till the rainy season fully arrives.
While commending Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his swift intervention and the level of work so far done at the erosion site which had previously suffered a massive landslide that cut off the Ozubulu axis of the ever-busy Onitsha–Owerri Expressway and subjected commuters and residents to untold hardship, the citizen said the coming rains may make nonsense of that great intervention and possibly aggravate the situation, if the work is it not perfected.
It would be recalled that following the landslide incident in 2023, Governor Soludo personally visited the site to assess the situation and immediately awarded the project to a reputable construction firm—TAMAD Construction Company—with a marching order to restore/reconnect the road and reclaim the erosion site. The road was subsequently reopened to traffic after initial repairs, while work continued on the erosion gully which, according to the Site Manager, Engineer Tony Madi, was 22 meters deep at the time of occurrence.
However, the concerned resident has raised fears over what he described as “the worrisome delay” in completing the erosion control project, noting that the rainy season could worsen the situation if urgent actions are not taken.
He emphasized that while vehicles now ply the road, the underlying threat posed by the gully erosion remains and could further escalate with the rains. According to him, the already constructed portions of the road, nearby buildings, and farmlands risk being washed away if the project is not completed soon.
“With the level of work done so far, it would be disheartening to see it wasted by rainfall. The rain has no sympathy for contracts or bureaucracy. If the gully site is not fully reclaimed and stabilized, it could collapse again, and this may even be more disastrous than before,” he warned.
The resident also highlighted the fragility of the surrounding environment and expressed concerns that any further delay could see the gully expand, threatening more houses and potentially cutting off the road again—a major artery that connects states and key commercial cities.
He stressed that erosion disasters are not to be handled with levity, particularly in a topographically sensitive region like Ozubulu, where past experiences have shown how swiftly gully erosion can spiral into large-scale destruction if not properly contained.
“What’s the guarantee that another landslide won’t happen if the project remains uncompleted and the rains become heavier? Should we wait until the road is severed again and lives are lost before taking action? These are the questions begging for answers,” he queried.
While applauding Governor Soludo’s leadership style and responsiveness, the resident called on the state government to mobilize resources, contractors, and relevant agencies to intensify work at the site and ensure timely completion. He called on the State’s Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Environment to jointly monitor the project and ensure that it aligns with both engineering standards and ecological sustainability.
He further charged the construction firm to justify the confidence reposed in it by accelerating its pace of work, without compromising quality, especially now that time is of the essence. According to him, erosion control is a race against time, and any procrastination could be catastrophic.
Beyond restoring the road and controlling the erosion, he also called for a long-term drainage plan for the area to prevent future recurrence. He noted that proper channeling of stormwater, environmental surveillance, and community sensitization should be part of the state’s holistic approach to erosion management.
He equally appealed to relevant federal agencies such as the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Ecological Fund Office to intervene and complement the efforts of the state government, noting that such ecological challenges require joint efforts. He further hinted that the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway is a federal road, and therefore should also be of serious concern to the Federal Government.
“Let the project not stop halfway. Let it not become one of those abandoned sites we hear about in the news. The rains are here already. Now is the time to act. We appreciate the steps already taken by the government, but we’re saying, please don’t leave it hanging. Complete it,” he pleaded.
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