As the Yuletide season approaches, many Imo State indigenes living abroad are making plans to return home, raising urgent calls for improved road infrastructure across the state.
The Imo House of Assembly has highlighted the critical need for rehabilitation of roads and other key facilities, especially in Okigwe Local Government Area, to ensure a smooth and safe festive period for residents and visitors alike.
During a recent plenary session, Mr. Chidebere Ogbunikpa, the representative for Okigwe State Constituency, emphasized that robust road networks are essential for the socio-economic and political growth of the area.
While acknowledging the commendable rehabilitation of the major Okigwe-Owerri road by Governor Hope Uzodimma, Ogbunikpa pointed out that several other vital roads in the area remain in poor condition and largely impassable.
Roads such as Ike, Umuchima, Ubaha, Opara, and Elezuo, he noted, have suffered prolonged neglect, severely affecting transportation and commerce.
Furthermore, the Okigwe Township Stadium, a key venue for community sporting events, has been deteriorating for years and urgently requires restoration to encourage local sports activities.
The urgency of these repairs grows as the rainy season approaches, threatening to worsen the situation on these neglected roads.
The assembly urged the governor to direct the Ministry of Works and relevant agencies to expedite rehabilitation efforts ahead of the rains to prevent further decay and hardship for commuters.
Backing the call, Mr. Ugochukwu Amuchie, representative for Aboh Mbaise, linked infrastructural development to broader socio-economic benefits, suggesting that improved infrastructure in Okigwe would help elevate the area to levels comparable with the more developed Owerri and Orlu zones.
This progress, he noted, could curb urban migration by providing better living conditions and job opportunities locally, thus easing pressure on larger urban centers.
Other lawmakers such as Mr. Sam Osuji of Isiala Mbano and Mr. James Esile of Onuimo echoed these concerns, stressing the importance of immediate action on infrastructural renewal to foster community engagement through sports and to halt ongoing degradation.
However, a dissenting view came from Mr. Francis Osuoha of Ohaji Egbema, who argued that emergency repairs fall within the remit of local government chairmen rather than state government.
Following heated debate, the assembly, led by Speaker Chike Olemgbe, voted overwhelmingly in favor of urging the state government to prioritize these infrastructural projects.
With more Imo people preparing to return home for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the call for better roads is not just about development—it is about ensuring safe, comfortable, and accessible travel for all who come back to their roots during this festive season.