Abia Lawmaker cries out over deplorable FG road

Deputy Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Solomon Akpulonu, has urged the federal government to urgently fix the Aba – Ikot Ekpene road to ease the suffering of motorists in the area.

Akpulonu, who represents Obingwa East State Constituency, described the road as too important to the economic survival of his constituency and lamented that his people have been made to suffer untold hardship due to the pitiable condition of the road.

Speaking at a forum to thank his constituents for re-electing him, the lawmaker said he is sad that the road had been featuring in the annual national budget since 2009 without the federal government mobilizing contractors to commence work.

He  stated over 500 business  outlets located on the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road had closed shop due to the poor condition of the road, stressing that the recent visit of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Raji Fashola, to the road, was yet to bear fruit.

“I’m begging the federal government to urgently commence rehabilitation work on the abandoned Aba –Ikot Ekpene road.  This road has been featuring in the national budget every year, yet the federal government has failed to mobilize contractors to commence work. Many communities in Obingwa East state constituency have been cut off from Aba and the neighbouring towns in Akwa Ibom State due to the deplorable condition of this road.

“Aba – Ikot Ekpene road is at the centre of the economic survival of my constituents who are predominantly farmers, they can no longer convey their agricultural produce to Aba. For over 3 years now, business outlets such as manufacturing companies, hotels, filing stations, farms and schools which provided jobs for over 3,000 persons  in the area have closed shop.

“We have also been cut off from the Nigerian Christian Hospital, Nlagu, which is the foremost health facility serving my constituency. In 2018, The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Raji Fashola inspected the road.  We have been expecting rehabilitation work to begin.

“The federal government should urgently commence rehabilitation work on this road to ease the suffering of my people.”

The lawmaker pledged to work with Abia Sate representatives at the National Assembly to help attract the attention of the federal government to fix the road.