The Imo State House of Assembly has urged Gov. Hope Uzodimma to include a road network in Mbaitoli Local Government Area (LGA) in its next phase of the statewide infrastructure development.
The house made the call during its Thursday’s plenary session, following a motion presented by Mr Innocent Ikpamezie (Mbaitoli constituency).
The motion urged the State Government to consider the strategic economic and demographic importance of the LGA for the government’s attention.
Ikpamezie urged the governor to direct the Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies to commence assessment, rehabilitation, and construction of key roads in the LGA, beginning with the most strategic link roads.
He also urged the ministry to collaborate with the council and community leaders to identify the priority roads for phased reconstruction and ensure quality execution.
Presenting the motion, Ikpamezie said that Uzodimma’s administration had embarked on massive infrastructural transformation across the state, particularly in the areas of road construction, urban renewal and rural development thereby improving connectivity and economic activities.
He said that, while many parts of the state had witnessed remarkable road rehabilitation and reconstruction, a number of roads in Mbaitoli still required urgent attention to align with the governor’s ongoing infrastructure development vision.
He argued that due to the effects of long years of degradation caused by erosion, several roads in the area had become impassable, thereby slowing down movement and economic activities in the area.
The lawmaker expressed concern that 10 key routes were presently in need of rehabilitation to ease the movement of people, goods, and services.
He listed the routes as Nwaorieubi Junction-Mbieri – T-Junction Nkwo Orji Road, Afara-Amaocha- Umunoha Road, Nwaorieubi Junction-Ifakala-Ukwu Orji Road.
Others included Mbieri – T-Junction-Iho Ikeduru Road, Nkwo Orji Orie Mbieri Road,
Egbeada-Ogbaku Road, Ogwa – Nkwo Orodo Road, Ubomiri – Mbieri Road, Amaocha – Eziama Road and Akwakuma Umudagu Road.
Ikpamezie contended that Mbaitoli, being the largest LGA in Imo, boasts of one of the highest numbers of registered voters, making it a strategic area for economic and social development.
He, therefore, said that an improved road infrastructure would not only enhance accessibility but also promote trade, agriculture, and inter-community relations, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the state.
He said that it would also boost rural productivity and reinforce the confidence of citizens in the development agenda of the present administration.
Contributing to the motion, Mr Chisom Ojukwu (Nkwere constituency), highlighted the strategic economic importance of the area and the connectivity to other parts of the state.
Also speaking in favour of the motion, Mr Kelechi Ofurum (Owerri North constituency), urged the governor to address the affected roads as they cut accross several communities.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Amarachi Iwuanyanwu, who presided over the session, granted the prayers of the motion, following votes in favour by the members.
Iwuanyanwu also directed the clerk to convey the resolutions to the office of the governor, the state Ministry of Works, and other relevant agencies of government.