The Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze Road, integral to the Owerri master plan, plays a significant role in reducing traffic congestion in and around Owerri city by providing a bypass to other cities and connecting crucial institutions and communities.
This route traverses more than 20 communities, with its potential to accelerate economic activities along the route and making it a low-hanging legacy project for any administration.
This route has been a source of major concern due to its severely deteriorated condition. It serves as a vital link between significant locations, including the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and the Nigeria Police Training School Nekede, the Naze tile market etc, and acts as a primary detour for commuters aiming to reach various destinations within and outside the state from Aba, Umuahia, Port Harcourt and Onitsha roads without traversing the city center.
Rehabilitating this ring road, as detailed in the Owerri master plan, is expected to facilitate and enhance economic activities and reduce insecurity especially for those affiliated with the educational institutions and local communities along its path.
Addressing the congestion at the control post owerri is not rocket science. One key solution is the swift completion of the rehabilitation of the aforementioned route, which continues through from orji, through mbieri across Orlu road through to across Onitsha Road and then snakes through back to Obinze connecting from the Umuokanne road.
For instance, motorists from Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, to axis like Emekuku, Egbu, Uratta, Orji, Uzoagba, Mbieri, Ikeduru, Mbano, Mbaise, and even Okigwe, would be able to circumvent Owerri city. As it stands presently, a commuter heading to mbano, Egbu, Emekuku, Nkwerre or mbaise axis from port Harcourt must go through Owerri city to get to their destination.
This also applies to commuters from Onitsha road axis heading to Umuahia, Ikeduru, Mbaise, etc., Although a flyover at the control post would enhance the city’s aesthetics, it should not take precedence over completing this crucial ring road. The delay by the government in realizing this is surprising. This route could be likened to the North and South circular roads in London.
The project has as a matter of fact received varying degrees of attention over the years, with attempts to continue its development and completion under different administrations faltering. The present Government of Governor Hope Uzodinma had taken a bold step to rebuild the road from Naze junction to the police post at the Nekede-Ihiagwa border and should be commended for works so far. The government had also started work at the otamiri river bridge at Umuchima with drainages on both sides up to just after the market square. But work is slow and it does not appear that much will happen this quarter as the rains are fast approaching. If nothing is done before the rains approach, all gains will be backtracked and lost and the road will turn out worse than before and more difficult and costlier to rehabilitate eventually if ever. The people of Ihiagwa, Nekede and obinze are apprehensive as the rains are almost already here.
The completion of the rehabilitation of this route is imperative and pertinent and is anticipated to not only enhance local access but also act as a strategic bypass, alleviating traffic pressure from the city’s core, complement economic activities along the route and underscore its importance as a vital element of the Owerri master plan.
By Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
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