Ironically, when President Goodluck Jonathan decided to flag-off the much awaited and clamoured construction of Second Niger Bridge, Imo State witnessed another milestone with the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha beginning what his administration termed the realization of the “first ever” “Fly-Over in the state.
For residents of Imo especially those in the state capital where the historic Fly Over is to be located, the incoming motorable bridge expected to act as a remedy to perennial traffic gridlock in Owerri is a welcome development.
One remarkable feat the Okorocha’s government dubbed “Rescue Mission” cannot be denied of since inception 2011 is its desire to create more roads under the road revolution project. On taking over mantle of leadership of the state, Okorocha’s government did not hide intentions about the road revolution. Irrespective of the pedigree and qualifications of contractors and contracting firm, contractors were asked to “go and do”. It was a common phenomenon to see road side mechanics, artisans and unskilled professionals turning into emergency contractors. The resultant effect is the construction of several rural roads across the state. Though some are quality roads have been completed others are still at various stages.
Owerri, the state capital also witnessed a fair share of this road revolution. More pronounced in the road projects in the state capital are the Whetheral Road-Aba road by pass, and West End-Whetheal Road by-pass which is the half-leg of the controversial Orlu road-Amaigbo street road project handled by JPross, where about N900m belonging to the state is unaccounted for yet.
Apart from minor street roads in the municipality, the three new roads from New Owerri end of Civil Centre and Akanchawa road across Nworie River to the JPross Road adds value to the Okorocha Road Revolution Project.
The creation of these roads by the Okorocha government can be said not to be the needed panacea to checkmate traffic problems in the state capital.
Judging from the fact that despite these new cross-over roads from New Owerri, to the old city, traffic gridlock especially, during the peak hours of vehicular movements re-occurs. To further tackle traffic problems in the state capital, Okorocha began his own 2nd Niger Bridge project in Owerri by attempting the construction of a fly over from the Assumpta end of Bank/Assumpta, Road, to one of the major entrance points into the old city.
Though the public has not been properly briefed on the road project since the design/layout and project details were not showcased for general consumption before construction, but earthwork and primary construction jobs at the proposed site started in earnest last month.
It all started one Monday morning. On my way to Bank road from Control Post, my prying eyes noticed people scampering for safety with their luggage and domestic belongings. As a news hunter on the prowl, I stopped to catch a glimpse of the scene. I noticed that a house near Nworie River and also close to the road leading to the house of a late prominent politician, Nze HSK Osuji of Owerri Nchi Ise, is facing caterpillar attack. Occupants of the bungalow of about twenty rooms woke up that fateful morning to face stark realities of having to quit by force, no thanks to the bulldozers that were already making a mincemeat of the house that had remained at that spot for several years. Before the bungalow turned to rubbles, the fleeing and embattled residents managed to rescue whatever they felt was necessary before allowing the remaining to fall by way side like the entire building. Their pitiable condition did not allow me to probe further as they were experiencing sorrow and tears. A neighbour within the area however informed me that the over 30 occupants woke up that morning to face the unannounced coming of bulldozers. The informant opined that though the caterpillars had been mobilized to the area earlier, little did the residents of the destroyed bungalow know that they would be the first victims of the earth-moving equipment. Further inquires indicated that the bungalow will give way to the proposed fly-over of the Okorocha administration.
Moments after the bulldozers wiped off the bungalow and rendered the occupants homeless, work began immediately and within a week skeletal projections indicating a fly-over have come into place. I was reliably informed that the flyover will be completed before the end the year which is about six months ahead same as the second Niger of Niger of President Jonathan.
The above statement came from the state government quarters when public criticism poked at the Okorocha administration for trying to play politics with the Fly-Over project considering the fast approaching 2015 election and Jonathan’s 2nd Niger Bridge project.
The Fly-Over project in Owerri no doubt is a welcome development. After the abandoned one initiated by Ohakim regime. Recent trips I took to other states of the federation was an exposure and expected benchmark for performing governors which the Imo governor is likened to be. And that is why I joined the residents of the state to say hurray and hail several Gbosas for the coming of the new Fly-Over after his administration sang funeral songs for the first ever Fly-Over project in Imo instituted by his immediate predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim. I don’t want to make reference to Port Harcourt and Uyo, capital cities of Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states respectively, where the populace are used to Fly-Over movements because they are oil rich states with necessary financial muscles for mega projects.
However, it is pertinent to state that the present administrations in Oyo and Ogun states with financial rating to Imo have bequeathed their residents with eye-popping fly over roads.
Barely few weeks after the Okorocha Fly-Over project got underway; the site seems to have been abandoned with no worker and machines available. Any passer-by may conclude that government action may have been to bulldozer the bungalow and send occupants packing out from the area or another, JPross contract sandal is in the offing again. As a layman in the engineering field without sufficient knowledge in road construction, I can say that that what was going on at the site near Assumpta/Bank road is a wonky job land if eventually completed will be nothing than a “mock” Fly -Over that may turn to be a death trap for would be road users. The machines and methods of raising the pillars for the Fly-Over speak volumes of amateurish expertise. I am not surprised that the coming rain which has started swelling the bank of Nworie River has exposed the skew-whiff job undertaken by a yet to be identified contractor
I am aware that Okorocha while presenting his 2014 Budget to the Imo State House Assembly in December 2013 did not declare intention to build a flyover in the state capital. Even as the state legislature is yet to pass the Appropriation Bill into law for the operation of the fiscal year, the amount earmarked for the Fly-Over project, and kilometers to be covered for record purposes were not stated and also made public. More so, the resolution of the state Executive Council member to okay the Fly-Over project, advertisement for tenders in line with standard practice for projects of such magnitude, and cost of the project are also lacking and not within public reach. Till date, it is not yet clear who the contractor, consultant and contract supervisors are.
From all indications, the December 2014 target for the completion of the flyover is no longer feasible. A look at the project site shows that either the contractor and those handling the project have deserted or the project is one of those publicity stunt orchestrated by the Rescue Mission to answer a performing Governor.
If the Okorocha government was not copying President Jonathan who kick-started the Second Niger Bridge recently, what stopped it from continuing with the deteriorated and abandoned Fly-Over project at Egbeada/Akwakuma and Orji Mechanic area of the state capital? In furtherance of his government’s hate campaign and vengeance mission targeted at elements of the past administration, which began since 2011, the all-important flyover project started by the Ohakim government was not only abandoned but also redesigned as one of much fancied roundabouts prevalent in the state. If the reconstruction of the flyovers to roundabouts manufactured a new name in Imo called “Fly-About” in Imo, Okorocha’s lack of spirit of continuity has sang nunc dimitis to the Egbeada-Amakohia-Akwakuma and Orji Mechanic Village flyover.
To possibly delete the flyover project of the past administrations from the minds of the residents of the state, attempts were made by the Okorocha government few months ago to cover the heavy Fly-Over carrier beam on the ever busy Akwakuma-Amakohia Orlu road where a roundabout was created instead of continuation of the fly-over project. But the idea boomeranged kudos for the new roads in town constructed to shield the over head bridge beam which fell like pack of cards. Ominous signs that further attempts may spell doom to road users stopped the state government from further experiment.
Since government is a continua, residents of the state had expected the present administration to have considered the economic and social importance of the Egbeada-Akwakuma-Orji by pass Fly-Over. Irrespective of the originator, the governor would have considered the interest of the direct beneficiaries who undoutably are those he fondly call “my people, my people” than the glory to be gained by the ousted regime.
After opening vital road networks connecting New Owerri to the old city through Nworie River concentration should focus on available alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion in the old city. This commentary has been concluded before news filtered in that the state government is reconsidering completing the Fly-Over project started by Ohakim and work has already started. What could be the reason for the late minute volte face is best known to Okorocha and his acolytes.
