-Allege Money Meant For Construction Pocketed
Traders at Timber and Allied Industrial Market Naze in Owerri, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State have accused Chief Tony Chukwu of abandoning a Naze-Egbu Ring Road leading to road safety Junction from Poly Junction.
The road of about 3.5km project was awarded to the Okigwe Zone born business mogul cum politician, owner of an Indigenous Ruudo Construction and Engineering Company by His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma at the inception of his administration.
Firstly, it was awarded by the former Governor of the State His Excellency Chief Sir Ikedi Ohakim before the present Governor renewed it to him(Chukwu).
Our source hinted that over 1billion Naira had been released by the government as a take off fund for the project but the said road had yet to receive the required attention.
Some of the traders who spoke to our reporter said the road has become a death trap to those plying it, giving its deplorable condition.
Our reporter who visited the Timber Market observed that the bad state of the Naze-Egbu Ring Road in the Owerri-North was so bad and needed urgent attention, noting that the road is one of the nerve centers of the state economy and a huge source of revenue to the State.
Speaking on the situation, a resident Mr. Cyriacus Ibeh lamented that the road was a nightmare to residents. According to him ” whenever it rains here, we are usually thrown into panic, despair and anguished, as the already deplorable road become almost impassable.
In the same vein, Mr. Nkemakolam Emeka, said the company and the state government were insensitive to the plight of the people doing business within the axis.
Nkemakolam said the government did not take cognizance of the fact the market and other companies operating there could make about N1 .5billion in a day if the road is good condition.
A trader who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not in the position to speak for the Timber and Allied Industrial Market Naze told our reporter that the Contractor had severally met with the leadership of the Market and promised to commence work but only to renege on his promises.
According to him, the last one he came early February this year and promised to commence the road. They brought their earth moving equipment and excavated the earth sand and ran away. Up till today we have not set our eyes on them again.
He pleaded with the State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma to order the constructor to go back to site and complete the road. This has affected the productivity of the Industrial zone to a larger extent.”As I talk to you now,some traders are already planning to protest on the streets of Owerri to register their frustrations”,he state.
A source at the Ministry of Works who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the said road was awarded to Tony Chukwu long before MCC road and Road Safety-Toronto road were awarded to Leo 9 Construction company Limited,sadly,the two roads have been completed,yet the Ogbo-Osisi road is still unattended to even with huge sum of money that was paid to Tony Chukwu’s company.
The Source said,”aside the Ogbo-Osisi road,there are other roads awarded to Tony Chukwu that are also abandoned.He said,my worry is that is as if the governor lacks the courage to call the man to order.
“Imagine that the governor had to engage Leo 9 construction company to assist build 1 Kilometer from Federal Polytechnics Junction to Road Ogbo Osisi when the President was to come and commission some roads in Imo and that is the only work done so far”.
Effort to reach Chukwu for his reaction proved abortive as he didnt take his calls or return same.
