Abakaliki, Nigeria – Residents of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, have expressed joy over the massive rehabilitation of roads in various parts of the city by the Ebonyi state government.
The respondents who spoke in Abakaliki on Wednesday, said the rehabilitation which they described as “unprecedented”, has made life easier for them.
Mr Chika Nwante, a resident of Ogbaga road in the Kpirikpiri area of the city, commended the state government for the intervention and described it as “timely”.
“The rainy season is approaching and the people can heave a sigh of relief from the hitherto unsavoury conditions of the roads.
“This particular Ogbaga road which connects Izzi Local Government Area of the state, has been deplorable for long until the government magnanimously intervened”.
Mr Leonard Obinire, a Commercial Transporter, said the rehabilitation has impacted positively on transportation generally in the city.
“We now ply roads within the capital without hindrance, leaving vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles in good condition.
“The rehabilitation has also drastically reduced traffic congestions and motoring periods on roads.”
Mrs Oluchi Aloh, a Trader, hailed the government’s intervention but called for quality work on the roads to prevent a return to deplorable conditions.
“These roads have been rehabilitated in the past but became deplorable due to shoddy jobs on them.
“Every government duty is to provide needed amenities to the citizens and this is latter’s right and not a privilege.”
The Senior Special Assistant to Ebonyi Governor on Urban Development, Maxwell Umahi, said the state government feels the pulse of the people and is ready to meet their needs.
“The road rehabilitation is embedded in the infrastructural component of the governor’s peoples’ charter of needs mantra.
“Economic activities have greatly increased in the city due to passable roads and the government has more in stock for the people .
“The people are assured of quality work to ensure the roads’ durability and motorists in particular, should reciprocate this gesture by driving carefully on them.”
He noted that roads in various vicinities of the city have been rehabilitated which include: Kpirikpiri, New Layout, Adjourning streets of Waterworks and Ogoja roads, Nkaleke, among others.
