INTERACTION BETWEEN THE IMO STATE COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS, BARR. RALPH NWOSU AND THE SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE GOVERNOR PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT, PRINCE EZE UGOCHUKWU
Q. How many roads have we commissioned?
Ans. We've commissioned 22 roads so far. Most of them in Owerri, and understandably so.
Q. What is the durability of these roads in terms of project monitoring. How efficient is the project monitoring arm of the ministry?
Ans. Very, very efficient. I have resident engineers, in addition we have assistant resident engineers. We have layers of supervision from the ministries moreover the Special Advisers on Project Monitoring from the three zones are always on site to look at what is happening. Even the governor himself is not left out in the supervision and monitoring exercise.
Q. In terms of the drainages on these roads, do you take seriously the deliveries of the contractors on the drainages?
Ans. That's the most important thing because, if you don't do it, the whole road funiture will collapse. Drainages are even more important. If you get it wrong, that's the end of the road. But some people just look at the asphalt. In most cases, asphalt is like paint, if the base is not there, you're wasting your time.
Q. Orlu road is progressing very well. The last time I checked, they're at Umuaka in Njaba LGA. What's happening with the Owerri - Okigwe Road.
Ans. That's ongoing. Owerri to Okigwe is ongoing. The delay we experienced was due to the fact that the initial design was 9 metres. We increased the width from 9 to 12.3 metres. We had to get the consultants to redesign it. We have one of the best consultants on that road, Deloitte and Touche. They're the one managing the projects plus our own internal mechanism.
Q. Do you have timeline completion for the project?
Ans. Yes. It's for 18 months. With the technology they are applying and availability of funds, we should be able to deliver that road within the projected time frame.
Q. For the Owerri - Okigwe Road, do you have plans for any palliatives as the raining season approaches?
Ans. We are already doing that at Añara, Amaraku. Akabo is okay now. At Ekemele we have a rigid there platform now at the black spot. So it will not have any problem.
Q. Do you have any plans for the rural roads too?
Ans. Of course. Our earth moving equipments will soon move into the zones. We just wanted to clear a few administrative issues and then go in. We don't have all the money in the whole world. Our next move is to the zones. We will tackle Orlu zone and Okigwe. We have three ongoing roads now in Okigwe zone already.
Q. What of Ideato area. Issues of erosion are more pronounced there.
Ans. They are part of the areas we will move in. But we did some palliatives in Ideato during the Christmas period. The erosion there is unbelievable. One of the longest roads in that area was done under Ikedi Ohakim era, Nigercat Construction Company did that road. The road has developed some faults here and there. Only two days ago, I despatched our engineers to go and assess that road. I will send their report to his Excellency for approval.
Q. What is your message to the people of Ideato North and South?
Ans. Of course they will have their roads done. We are for everybody. We will not patronize some areas and abandon others. We will be even-handed in the spread of projects.
Q. Is there any other thing you will like to tell us in terms of the performance of your ministry. Your message to Imo people.
Ans. What we have done is there for everybody to see, and it tells you what we can do if given the opportunity and if we have enough money. We are doing the roads to stand the test of time. No government should be praised for constructing a road, because that's what you're supposed to do in the first place. If we have done that in the last eight years, no body will be talking about roads by now. We would have freed funds for other sectors and develop other facilities.
Q. I saw what is happening at Naze/Timber Market road up to Road Safety junction in Egbu. Are you taking it to Orji as part of the inner ring road?
Ans. We will take construction to Orji. We will get there. There is also an intervention that is happening there. That road was under contract. NDDC intervened in that particular segment of the road. But during the last rainy season, the area almost submerged. So we had to call back the contractor. NDDC came and instead of the Naze stretch, we asked them to construct the Egbu/Road Safety junction to Orji. While we handle the Naze to Road Safety junction. We are now doing the Naze to Egbu junction, while they're now putting their acts together to tackle the Egbu to Orji section.
Q. What of the MCC to Toronto. Any plans of going beyond Toronto junction?
Ans. What we're doing at the MCC to Toronto junction is a prelude. Once we get to Toronto, we will cross it to Uratta. Just the same thing we're doing at the World Bank Road. Once we get to the last roundabout, we will proceed to Umuguma village.
Q: How is the World Bank Road going? I see ongoing work at the Cubana Section.
Ans: : That area is the lowest point on that road. The flooding in that area is very heavy, but with what we are doing now, we will contain it and solve the problem
Q: Are you going to take the road rehabilitation to some sections of Yar'dua Drive?
Ans: Once we solve the problem with the drains we are doing at the World Bank Road, we will now connect to Yar'dua drive. No matter what you do at Yar'dua road without taking out the sluge water there, it will collapse. The water there is going no where, so we need to fix the drains there and take the water from Everyday Supermarket to Nwaorie River.
Q: Some people are saying that, why should we commison roads of less than 5 kilometres without taking full cognizance of drainage components, especially the balloon technology at Chukwuma Nwoha road and environs.
Ans: Apart from the balloon Technology, people did not realize that Chukwuma Nwoha was the most problematic road we have done, even within the internal roads we are doing.
The inner ring roads we are doing are supposed to come from Bishop's Court up to Chukwuma Nwoha to Egbu and underground across the road into Otammiri River. When we designed it then in 2007 and 2011, we could not do it because of the cost implication. No other administration could do it because they could not attack the drainage problem. It is not the length of the road, but the importance of the road that matters.
The balloon Technology is something we are happy about.
Publisher: Don Martyn L.O Nwosu
Ikeduru APC Media Hub
08032950897
Ikeduruapcmediahub@gmail.com
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