Anambra Blames Flooding For Road Failures, Defends Project Quality
The Anambra State Government has defended the quality of its road construction projects, attributing the failure of some recently completed roads to flash floods and unusually heavy rainfall.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Okey Ezeobi, stated this during a press briefing in Awka, insisting that the state engages only registered and highly rated contractors to execute its road projects.
Ezeobi explained that prolonged rainfall had saturated the soil, particularly in flood-prone communities, creating conditions that contributed to the deterioration of some road sections.
He, however, acknowledged that contractors could not be completely absolved of responsibility for the reported failures.
The commissioner disclosed that the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo had asphalted 742 kilometres of roads and awarded 143 road contracts, with the reported road failure rate standing at approximately three per cent.
He urged residents to desist from dumping refuse into drainage channels, warning that blocked drains obstruct the free flow of water, resulting in flooding and damage to road infrastructure.
He also cautioned operators of heavy-duty vehicles against jacking their vehicles on asphalted road surfaces, noting that such practices could contribute to road damage.
On ongoing infrastructure projects, Ezeobi said reconstruction of the Amawbia section of the highway would commence soon, adding that the federal government was executing ongoing federal road projects in the state at no cost to the Anambra State Government.
He further disclosed that the federal government had approved the construction of a pedestrian flyover at Regina Caeli Junction and a pedestrian crossing in front of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to improve pedestrian safety.
Addressing concerns over alleged structural defects on the Ekwulobia Flyover, the commissioner dismissed fears surrounding the project, expressing optimism that it would be opened to motorists by the first week of December 2026.
