By CHIMEZIE ANASO

Some residents of Awka have called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to carry out palliative repairs on failed portions of internal roads in the city.

The residents spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday.

They complained that the deplorable condition of the roads was hampering smooth movement of goods and services in the capital town.

They contended that the roads would soon become impassbale, if urgent palliative measures were not applied.

They listed the affected roads to include UniZik Junction, Goodwill Junction and Y-Junction.

Others include the Old INEC Road and the road connecting Goodwill Junction with Arroma Junction through Retreat Centre.

The rest are the Ukwu-Aki Road (behind Government House), 1st Market Junction on Ifite Road and Nya Ranch Road by Government House, amongst others.

Mr Jude Onyia, who resides at Okpuno Village, said it had become difficult to drive in and out of the village due to the poor state of the roads.

Onyia said that the road leading to the area through St. Gabriel Catholic Church was no longer passable.

He also said that the one through Y-Junction had been rendered impassable by potholes and heaps of waste.

He said: “We need urgent help from the state government. “We cannot wait for the end of the rain because we are almost cut off. It is an emergency.

“The Goodwill Junction is the only place that connects the entire Mgbakwu, Isuanocha, Urum, Okpuno, Amanuke and other communities to the town.

“But you can see that both the junction and two roads leading to it are in very bad condition,” Onyia said.

A business owner in the area, Mrs. Gloria Udu, said that the deplorable condition of the roads was affecting their sales.

Udu said that the situation, which was compounded by heavy flooding, made prospective customers to divert to other routes.

She said: We are having serious challenges here.

“Motorists and passersby now find it difficult to take this road because of the potholes and heaps of refuse.

“We appeal to the governor to do something urgent because we cannot afford to wait until the drying season. “Our businesses are suffering and many families are now finding it difficult to cope.”

A tricycle operator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the deterioration of the road was putting pressure on their businesses.

According to him, tricycle operators now ply longer routes in their bid to avoid failed portions of the roads.

He said that the development had led to a marginal increase in fare to enable them to cover cost and maintain their vehicles.

“We spend so much to fix our Keke and because we swim through flood water, we wash it every day.

“So, instead of the normal N100, we now charge N150 and N100, depending on the distance,” he said.

NAN recalls that the governor recently said that road rehabilitation in different parts of the state would begin after the rains. (NAN)

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