Senate orders urgent rehabilitation of Onitsha, Ogbaru, Ndoni Federal Highway

The Nigerian Senate has known as for the urgent rehabilitation of the Onitsha–Ogbaru–Ndoni Federal Highway, which hyperlinks Anambra State to Rivers State.

The decision adopted a movement pursuant to Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, sponsored by the senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Senator Tony Nwoye.

Presenting the movement, Nwoye argued that the Onitsha–Iyiowa–Odekpe–Atani–Ogwuikpele–Ndoni Federal Highway is a strategic federal street linking the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

He stated the street was partially constructed within the late Eighties however had suffered many years of neglect with none main rehabilitation.

He additionally famous that extended abandonment, ageing infrastructure, growing site visitors quantity and the absence of routine upkeep had decreased the freeway to a deplorable state, characterised by in depth pavement failures, deep potholes and extreme erosion, thereby posing critical risks to the lives and property of commuters and different street customers.

He stated, “The deteriorating situation of the freeway has considerably elevated journey time, such {that a} journey of roughly 70 kilometres from Onitsha to Ogbaru and Ndoni, which ordinarily takes about one hour, now takes practically two hours, leading to greater transportation prices, loss of productive man-hours and disruption of business actions.

“The failed sections of the freeway steadily trigger autos to interrupt down and stay stranded for extended intervals, thereby exposing commuters to street site visitors accidents and heightened safety dangers.

“The freeway serves an important financial hall with important oil and gasoline exploration and manufacturing actions within the Ogbaru oil belt and, subsequently, makes substantial contributions to Nigeria’s financial system and nationwide Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“I am worried that the continued neglect of this critical federal highway has adversely affected interstate commerce, agricultural value chains, regional integration and investment, thereby undermining the Federal Government’s commitment to economic development, national connectivity and safe transportation.”

Accordingly, the Senate urged the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to undertake emergency palliative repairs on the failed and unmotorable sections of the Ogbaru–Ndoni–Rivers Federal Highway. Alternatively, it known as for the South-East Development Commission or the Federal Ministry of Works to be mandated to hold out the repairs pending complete rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The Senate additionally urged the Federal Ministry of Works, as a matter of urgent nationwide significance, to begin the rapid rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Ogbaru–Iyiowa–Odekpe–Atani–Ogwuikpele–Ndoni Federal Highway by a particular intervention programme or every other acceptable funding association, given its strategic significance as a significant hyperlink between the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

It mandated the Senate Committee on Works to conduct an on-the-spot evaluation of the freeway, have interaction related stakeholders and report again to the Senate inside 4 weeks with acceptable suggestions.

The Senate additional mandated the Committees on Works and Appropriations to make sure enough budgetary provision for the excellent rehabilitation and reconstruction of the freeway.