The Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Marcel Ifejiofor, has accused past administrations in the state of lacking maintenance culture hence the decay in the state of the roads.

He insisted that if the past Governors had done good work on state roads, it would have lasted longer and not be easily washed off by flood.

Addressing journalists during the 2020 budget breakdown held in Awka weekend, the commissioner stressed that the incumbent Governor, Willie Obiano’s administration built better roads which has remained intact as a result of the continuous maintenance culture.

Ifejiofor argued that contrary to reports on social media, that Anambra State roads were better compared to other states of the federation.

“Go to Enugu and other states close by and see for yourself that Anambra roads are better. Forget all those things they write on social media. It’s not enough to sum Anambra roads as failed. You people can ascertain to that.

“Anambra roads are not the worse off. The problem we have here is that past administrations didn't have maintenance culture. When you build roads, it requires maintenance. Look at the roads built by governor Obiano, none of it has failed because it is constantly being maintained.

“The roads are bad but we have plans for them. Most of the impassable roads in Anambra state are federal roads. One good thing is that we don’t play politics with what we are doing. What we are doing on our roads is verifiable.

“The Governor is having sleepless nights to make sure we move on our roads. I want to assure you that between now and Christmas, something wonderful will happen on our roads. We are waiting for the rains to stop because road construction cannot be done while the rain is still on,” he said.

The Commissioner observed that the decay on the roads escalated because heavy duty vehicles which were not supposed to ply the state roads diverted to it following failure of federal roads in the area.

He accused opposition elements of playing politics with unfounded social media reports saying: “They should go and check roads built by Governor Willie Obiano, they are all still solid.

“It is roads constructed by previous governments that were in bad shape because he said they lacked maintenance culture. It is the present administration that introduced the concept of maintenance culture on roads through the Anambra State Road Maintenance Agency.”

The Ministry of Works has the largest chunk of the budget in the 2020 budget with a N21 billion.

Giving insight into why his ministry got the lion share of the 2020 budget, Ifejiofor said that a lot of work will be done in the state especially as it concerns state roads that will measure up to the amount mapped out for the ministry.

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