Nine years after the contract was awarded and abandoned, work has finally resumed in earnest on the Otuocha – Anam – Kogi federal road linking Anambra and Kogi States.

Upon completion, the road is expected to make a trip to Abuja only by three hours, instead of the current seven hours.

Unconfirmed report put the cost of the project, handled by Nigercat Nigeria, at N2.5 billion with nothing on ground to show for it before it was abandoned.

The road project was restarted following efforts of the member representing Anambra East/West in the House of Representatives, Dr. Tony Nwoye, who facilitated the release of funds to the contractor by the Federal Government.

During an inspection tour of the project with officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and community leaders in the area, the lawmaker said that the National Assembly had approved N 1.8 billion to be spent on the road this fiscal year.

He gave assurance that the road would not be abandoned again.

His words: “I decided to make the road a priority constituency project because the people of the area were suffering so much as they often found it difficult to transport their produce to the cities at the end of every farming season due to bad roads.

“This is not a political matter. It is something that is very dear to me because I remember the support the people of Anambra West gave me when I contested election.

“I have been meeting stakeholders to find a solution to the road as I am determined to ensure its completion and I am very happy that the contractors have moved to site.

“The people of this local government are the most marginalised in the state and I believe that opening up this road will help to boost the economy of the people of the area.

“N800 million was approved in the 2017 budget and N1 billion in the 2018 budget for the road and, by God’s grace, more money will be injected into the project once the N1.8 billion is exhausted.

“The assurance we have got is that funds will continue to be released on regular basis until the work is completed. Part of the reason I am determined to see this project through is that the people gave me maximum support even when one of their sons contested election with me.

“Once this road is completed, this area will open up to commercial activities.”

Nwoye commended the Minister of Works, the Permanent Secretary and the Chairman of the Works Committee in the House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, as well as the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, for their support and efforts at getting the road project started again, adding that they would ensure the road is completed at a given time.

It was however gathered at the project site that additional N3 billion would be needed for the road to be completed.

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