The House of Representatives in its plenary session on Thursday November 8, 2012 adopted a motion sponsored by His Excellency, Hon. Bethel N. Amadi, member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, calling on the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to as a matter of urgency; commence immediate rehabilitation of the damaged portions of the Owerri – Okigwe Highway.
Moving the motion on the floor of the House, Hon. Amadi observed that Owerri Okigwe Federal Highway is a busy highway which connects the capital city of Imo State, Owerri, to other parts of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia State.
He noted that the Akabo Community portion of the Highway, especially, Ekemele Market junction of the Federal Highway has been badly damaged by erosion and heavy rainfall thereby creating big gullies on the road. Hon. Amadi further noted that despite his several letters of complaint and visits to Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), they have neglected and ignored the repair of the damaged portion of the Federal Highway.
He expressed concern that the deplorable state of this very important highway has been causing frequent road accidents, which has resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
Worried that the road is now impassable, thus causing untold and unprecedented hardship to road users and commuters and presently threatens to cut off the state capital from most South East states and further worried that the commercial, social and economic activities in the area is being negatively affected due to the deplorable state of the road, Hon. Bethel Amadi moved the House to mandate that FERMA and the Federal Ministry of Works to as a matter of urgency, repair the damaged portion of the Owerri-Okigwe Federal Highway especially this approaching yuletide period.
