South-East Has Never Had It So Good In Federal Projects, Say Group

Raymond Ozoji, Awka

Igbos for a Progressive Nigeria (IPAN), a non-governmental organization, has observed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari responded to the age long demand for the construction of a second bridge across the River Niger following the depreciation of the first bridge.

The group in a statement signed by the national president Mr. Lawrence Onuzulike stated that after 40 years of delays and disappointments from previous governments, President Buhari saw the dire need to construct the second Niger Bridge so that the South-East region will not be cut off from other parts of Nigeria.

The statement which was issued to journalists in Awka reads in part, “IPAN is delighted with the level of federal government presence in the Southeast since 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari came on board.

“We want to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the construction work going on at the very important second Niger Bridge and other associated roads and flyovers within that axis after 40 years of delays and disappointments.

“IPAN is also grateful  for the ongoing rehabilitation work on Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, the old Enugu-Awka Expressway, Okigwe Road and other roads recently awarded. We also praise the setting up of industrial parks in Aba and Nkwelle Ezunaka by the federal government. The energising market project in Ariaria market Aba and the Sola power projects in Alex Ekwueme University in Ebonyi state and Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Anambra state.

“The truth is that the people of the Southeast have never had it so good in terms of federal projects. However, like the fictional Oliver Twist, we are asking for more projects. IPAN appeals to federal government to rehabilitate bad portions of the Onitsha-Owerri road, completion of Owerri to Elele section of the Owerri-Port Harcourt expressway as well as the commencement of Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway, once funding is secured for it.

“We also hope that the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority will expedite action to make the Onitsha River Port fully functional, by amongst other things, carrying out dredging of the river channels so as to enable big vessels to sail from Onneh Port to the Onitsha River Port. Irrespective of what some noisy few may be saying, the vast majority of Ndigbo are happy with all the projects going on in the zone and are hopeful of many more to come.”