FG Urged To Hasten Makurdi-Enugu Road Dualisation After Obollo-Afor Flooding

Residents of Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State have appealed to the federal government to hasten work on the ongoing dualisation of Makurdi-Oturkpo-Obollo-Afor-9th Mile road following flooding of Obollo-Afor market.

NewsNGR reports that the flood followed a heavy downpour Monday night. It was gathered that the flooding was triggered by absence of drainage systems on the expressway, having been disrupted for the construction of the dual carriageway.

“The flood destroyed everything in my shop,” narrates a shop owner, Emma Ozioko. “I sell articles. It happened at night, so there was nothing we could do. We are happy with the ongoing dualisation, but the company needs to hasten the work. They can do well by creating water channels at some strategic places. Many of us thought that the rainy season has ended, but this weather is deceptive. Let them consider possible ways to create water channels, otherwise, the victims of the construction will be many.”

A socialite, Innocent Chukwuma, said the impact of the flooding was devastating. In his words, “Goods worth millions of naira were affected. Houses were flooded, leading to damage of household materials. What the construction company should do is to create temporary water dumps and direct waterways there, or open up blocked drainages. I personally had thought that the rainy season has gone, but this rain fell unannounced. We plead with the authorities to salvage the situation.”

An engineer, Jude Ossai, advised priorities in choosing construction sites. “The work is coming all the way from Makurdi. The Obollo-Afor axis is from Oturkpo, targeting 9th Mile. The company can hasten the construction at some commercial areas like Obollo because of business activities. The flood that happened is a result of the blockade the drainage where water flows from the park. Before now, the junction close to Anto Bridge Filling Station has been the spot where debris evacuated from up Udenu roundabout is deposited. Business operators within the area used to evacuate the deposits to even have access to their shops. But the heavy downpour occurred at night. They woke up to count their losses.”

A victim, Jane Ezema, said the construction company handling the road drained the flood on Tuesday to reduce the adverse impacts on the people. “They tried, but another rain fell in the afternoon of Tuesday, and compounded everything. People were chased out of their homes.”

Our correspondent reports that mechanic workshops, pubs and filling stations were most affected, aside residences.