Soludo Awards 908km Of Roads In Anambra, Asphalted 442km – Commissioner

The Anambra State Government has awarded contracts for the construction of 908.44 kilometres of roads across the state since Governor Chukwuma Soludo assumed office in 2022, the state Commissioner for Works, Architect Okey Ezeobi, has disclosed.

Ezeobi, who made this known while briefing journalists in Awka, said 442 kilometres of the awarded road projects had been fully asphalted, describing the administration’s road infrastructure programme as unprecedented in the state’s history.

He disclosed that the government had awarded a total of 143 road contracts since the beginning of the administration, adding that the kilometres of roads asphalted under Soludo exceeded the combined achievements of the three previous administrations.

Addressing concerns over the condition of some recently constructed roads, particularly complaints circulating on social media, the commissioner maintained that less than five kilometres of the 442 kilometres asphalted had experienced structural failures.

According to him, more than 95 per cent of the roads constructed by the administration remained in good condition.

Ezeobi attributed the reported failures to factors including underground water, unusually heavy rainfall and blocked drainage channels, noting that the government was already taking steps to rehabilitate the affected sections.

He alleged that some residents deliberately blocked drainage channels to allow sand to accumulate for harvesting and commercial purposes, a practice he said contributed to flooding and damage to road infrastructure.

The commissioner explained that several roads remained in good condition until the recent rainy season exposed underground water challenges that were not adequately captured during the initial construction assessments.

He also noted that the impact of underground water was evident in some residential buildings, where ground-floor surfaces had reportedly begun peeling.

On concerns about construction quality and the competence of contractors handling the projects, Ezeobi insisted that the government engaged reputable construction companies with the technical capacity to deliver quality infrastructure.

He described the firms as A-rated contractors, adding that those responsible for affected roads had returned to their respective sites to carry out repairs and reconstruction at no additional cost to the state government.

However, he acknowledged that human errors could not be entirely ruled out as a possible contributing factor to some of the road failures.

Citing the Amawbia-Ekwulobia dual carriageway as an example, Ezeobi said some sections of the road faced challenges due to erosion-prone areas and swampy locations where underground water frequently surfaced.

He further stated that the volume of rainfall recorded this year was unprecedented in the past 50 years, explaining that floodwater had penetrated underground and affected several road projects, including some executed by the Federal Government.

To address the situation, the commissioner said the state government planned to remove damaged asphalt from affected sections and introduce cement-based stabilisation to strengthen the underlying soil and prevent further deterioration.

He explained that the process would commence after the underground water had sufficiently drained, allowing the stabilised sections to set before fresh asphalt was applied.

Ezeobi assured residents that the government remained committed to delivering durable road infrastructure, stressing that the ongoing rehabilitation works would not impose additional financial burdens on the state.

He also dismissed some criticisms of the administration’s road projects on social media as politically motivated, insisting that such comments did not accurately represent the condition of roads across the state.

The commissioner added that the government would formally announce the completion and certification of the affected roads before reopening them to motorists.

He said the administration was working to ensure that roads across Anambra State were motorable ahead of the Christmas celebrations.