Ben Ezechime, Enugu
President Bola Tinubu has approved the construction of 9th mile, Opi-Obollo Afor-Oturkpo Expressway to ease the movement of transporters and goods from the North to the South of Nigeria.
The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, disclosed this while speaking with journalists after an audience with the President at the Presidential Villa.
He said: “the president has approved, amongst other projects, the: immediate construction of the Lafia Bypass Dualisation from Makurdi, through Oturkpo, through Oboloafor, down to 9th Mile.”
Reacting on the situation, the Head of Senator Okechukwu Ezea media team, Mr Aniebo Nwamu, said the development was a result of persistent push by the senator representing Enugu North on the bad state of the road.
Nwamu described the development as a win for the people of the Enugu North district, who have suffered untold hardship due to the dilapidated nature of the road.
He said the Labour Party senator had in less than four months at the Upper legislative chamber, “lived up to the expectations of his constituents by ensuring that the yearnings of the people of Enugu North Senatorial District are brought to the attention of the Federal Government.”
“Recall that on August 7, 2023, while asking for relief materials for the victims of Opi inferno, Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea drew the attention of the Federal Government to the bad state of the 9th Mile-Obollo–Makurdi expressway which is currently in a dilapidated state.
“He noted further that the accident which triggered the inferno was avoidable and could have been avoided had the 9th-Mile-Obollo Afor-Makurdi expressway, which hitherto provided veritable bypass to motorists commuting the Eastern Corridor, been motorable.
“The Distinguished Senator matched this call with actions through numerous engagements with Federal authorities, especially the Minister of Works, His Excellency Engr. Dave Umahi, who firmly gave his commitment to the rehabilitation of the road.
“Again, just last week, Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea rallied his colleague Senators from the South-East and South-South regions for urgent action on the road and the result is the approval given by President Tinubu for the construction of the road,” Nwamu said.
The spokesperson added that Senator Ezea in his few months in the National Assembly had shown commitment practically in giving the good people of Enugu North unparalleled representation.
“His daring exploits at the Red Chamber will definitely reposition Enugu North Senatorial District on the perfect development trajectory.
“This is what you get when you have political leaders with milk of human kindness in power,” he said.
ikengaonline reports that the road which links the northern and southern part of Nigeria through Enugu State has been abandoned by motorists who now find alternative routes to their various destinations.
