EROSION CONTROL AND ROAD MAINTENANCE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN; THEY MAKE EACH OTHER WHOLE

[okenw...@yahoo.com]

https://bit.ly/2XVyQ5b   EROSION CONTROL AND ROAD MAINTENANCE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN; THEY MAKE EACH OTHER WHOLE   The rapidly degrading southbound road outlet of the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra state finally collapsed a few days ago after a major downpour and thereby making it a living nightmare for commuters who depend on this main thoroughfare daily without warning. Inadequate drainage of the highway and surrounding business and residential districts had caused the collapse of this road segment in past years. Preceding repair work was poorly designed and constructed, hence this most recent catastrophic collapse. Panic struck the business community, particularly those who rely on this arterial highway to convey their goods and wares from across the Niger Bridge to all the states of the East and the Niger Delta.   Political and sociocultural leaders of the East, especially Anambra state, suddenly woke up from their slumber and are now sending out SOS calls for Abuja to come to the rescue. In one of such distress calls, this shoutout was directed at Mr. Raji Fashola, the Minister of Works and Transport: “As a former governor of Lagos State, you performed very well in the provision and maintenance of good roads. We believe that you can repeat this feat on Onitsha-Enugu road, Enugu-Port Harcourt road, Ihiala-Mbano-Umuahia road, the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, the Aboh-Anioma road, the Umuahia-Arochukwu road, the Uturu-Afikpo road, the Owerri-Mbaise-Obowo roads, the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road and the 9th Mile-Benue border road.” From the preceding, it is obvious that the road transportation infrastructure in the East has been in a state of perpetual disrepair, especially since the ascendancy of the Buhari administration.   The World Igbo Environmental Foundation (WIEF), an NGO, has actively engaged the state governments and communities in Alaigbo in the past two decades with public enlightenment campaigns and workshops on erosion control and general environmental husbandry. Experience showed that negligence on the part of the government and public ignorance combined to make the reported collapse of Owerri Road in Onitsha a regular feature in the East during the rainy season.   This article is republished from the archives of WIEF to remind all and sundry that both the causes and the solutions for the widespread erosion menace devastating the East and the rainforest zone of Southern Nigeria are well-known. All that remains is for the government at all levels and the citizenry to begin to face the worsening environmental tragedy of this part of the world more seriously as they should.   To read the full article, go to the LNC USA website and scroll toward the bottom. Share widely with your social media contacts as usual.   Okenwa.