Good News! FG Sets Plan To Rehabilitate Enugu-Onitsha Expressway
The Enugu-Onitsha Expressway which connects Anambra and Enugu States has become a death trap as users have being exposed to unimaginable danger with many fallen victims of armed robbery attacks and loss of lives and property through accidents, due to the terrible condition of the federal expressway.
Normally, it takes approximately an hour and thirty minutes to drive from Onitsha in Anambra State to Enugu, the capital city of the old Eastern Region, but presently, it takes more than four hours of torture to move from one end to the other.
However, the ugly experiences of motorists and commuters who go through agonies plying the terribly lamentable road are about to come to an end as the Federal Government has started the process for the rehabilitation of the highway.According to Vanguard, the government is considering awarding the reconstruction of the dual carriageway project to a competent construction firm under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, scheme and a reliable source who spoke to its correspondent revealed that the process to give the highway a face lift began at a meeting which recently held in Awka, the Anambra State capital, between the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and the Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Wilie Obiano in Awka. Mr. Fashola while expressing concerns over the deplorable state of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, it was learnt, decided that Obiano should search for a very competent and reliable construction firm that can see to the rehabilitation works for possible approval.
It was nevertheless, gathered that China CAMCE Engineering Limited, a Chinese construction company, has indicated interest to rehabilitate the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway under Built, Operate and Transfer, BOT, arrangement. This implies that the China CAMCE will rehabilitate the road and toll it for an agreed number of years to recover its investment before transferring it to the government.
Speaking on the development, Chief Kingsley Agha, the Managing Director of Urban Tech Engineering Company Limited, the Managing Director of Urban Tech Engineering Company Limited, Chief Kingsley Agha, was hopeful that the Chinese company has all it takes to turnaround the current condition of the highway.
Chief Agha whose company is in partnership with China CAMCE said the firm is ready for the job, adding:
“They are waiting for approval from the Federal Government; and the Governors of Enugu and Anambra State. We were there and they saw the condition of the road. It is a Federal road, they are asking if they can be given the opportunity to develop that road and put toll gate to collect their investment back.”
We sincerely pray this will not end up like promises from politicians who swore to rehabilitate the road but never did.
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