By Praise Chinecherem
Onitsha South Elders’ Forum (OSEF) has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to immediately revoke the contract on the ongoing construction of Zik Avenue in Fegge, Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The group in a statement after inspection of the construction work weekend, said the contracting firm (NEW DEAL Co) handling the work was using substandard materials which will make the road fail in no distant time when completed.
The statement signed by the chairman of the group, Dede Uzor A Uzor, said investigation revealed that the buttmen and asphalts used were of low quality standard and the road are made to last for 20 years inline with the terms of the agreement .
“This apeal is inline with the pressure which is coming as a result of articulated vehicles excavating sands from River Niger plying the road on every minute with heavy loads.
“The Governor should direct the contractor to do a standard job or have the contract revoked if the contractor fails to carry out this directive.
The Governor should revoke the construction work at Niger Street to Main Market when the same contractor has become so slow and is using substandard materials.
“Now work is progressing on the road.They have laid the concrete base. And work on the pedestrian area is equally progressing. So, if the contractor handling the Zik Avenue refuses to do a good job, his excellency should not hesitate to revoke the job” the group said.
The group however lauded the Governor for awarding contracts for the reconstruction of major roads in Onitsha South especially in Fegge, saying that no Governor in the past had remembered Fegge in this manner.
Some of the roads under construction in Fegge are Niger Street, Porthacourt Road, Miss Elems, Creek Road.
The group noted that contractors handling these other roads were trying, hoping that they would continue to maintain the standard or even improve upon it.
It urged the Governor to award other important roads in the area in the second phase of his contract awards.
It mentioned the roads which need attention as Uga Street, Mbonu Ojike, Premier road, Orlu street by Arondizuogu among others.
“We plead with the governor to use this greatest opportunity to install gates in different strategic entrance leading to fegge community, which includes Bida by Odumeje gate, Bida by C. Plus Hotel, Ziks Avenu via Ochanja, Port Harcourt road gate, Agufere by Express gate, Premier, Uga street , Niger street, Main market Sokoto road among other expected gates.
“The gates if installed will go a long way in providing the much needed security for the residents of fegge,” OSEF appealed.
