An Oblong Media Investigative Analysis
The people of Nekede, Ihiagwa, Obinze, and the surrounding communities connected by the ring road have had enough.
After almost two decades of half hearted rehabilitation efforts, repeated promises, contract awards, re awards, budgetary allocations and political assurances, confidence in the willingness of the Imo State Government to complete the Naze–Nekede–Ihiagwa–Obinze Road has almost completely evaporated.
This is not an ordinary road.
It is one of the most strategic transportation corridors in Imo State.
The road serves as a major bypass for motorists travelling from Port Harcourt to Aba, Umuahia, Okigwe, Orlu and even Onitsha. The corridor traverses Nekede, Ihiagwa, Obinze and Umuokanne, forming part of a strategic ring-road network that connects Port Harcourt Road to Onitsha Road, Orlu Road, Mbaitoli, Orji, Okigwe Road, Uratta, Egbu, Mbaise-Umuahia Road, Naze and Aba Road before reconnecting through Nekede, Ihiagwa and Obinze back to Port Harcourt Road and Umuokanne. This makes it one of the most vital economic and transportation arteries in Imo State, serving thousands of commuters, businesses and institutions on a daily basis.
The corridor also serves the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), the Police Training College, military and security formations, markets, industries, residential estates and numerous commercial establishments.
If government truly understood the strategic importance of this corridor, the road would have been completed years ago.
Instead, what we have witnessed is a textbook example of policy inconsistency, poor execution, questionable construction quality and an apparent lack of urgency.
The recent rehabilitation efforts commenced during the administration of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, who awarded the project to the internationally recognised Chinese construction giant, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
The difference was immediately visible.
CHEC mobilised aggressively and substantial work was achieved within a relatively short period.
However, following the Supreme Court judgment that removed Governor Ihedioha from office, the CHEC contract was terminated.
The project was subsequently awarded to Leo 9 Asphalt and Construction Limited.
The first phase of the road, stretching from Naze Junction to Federal Polytechnic Nekede, was completed and eventually commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
What happened next remains one of the most disturbing aspects of the entire project.
No sooner had work commenced on the second phase than the first phase began showing signs of deterioration.
The second phase was eventually completed around 2022.
Yet by 2024, significant portions of the road had already deteriorated so badly that large sections were practically washed away.
A road that was barely two years old had already failed.
That points to only one conclusion: substandard road construction.
There is no other reasonable explanation why a major road carrying strategic traffic should deteriorate at such an alarming rate shortly after completion.
Towards the end of 2025, another round of repairs commenced.
Failed portions were patched.
The stretch from the Police Training College to the Ihiagwa Market Square was freshly asphalted.
Once again, residents hoped that the nightmare was finally coming to an end.
Once again, they were disappointed.
Since December 2025, construction activities have effectively stopped.
The project has once again been abandoned.
There has been no visible urgency.
There has been no sustained mobilisation.
There has been no indication that government considers this project a priority.
Even the recent FUTO Convocation, which attracted distinguished academics, captains of industry, traditional rulers, government officials and prominent Nigerians from across the country, was not enough to trigger a resumption of meaningful work.
That should concern every Imolite.
The Governor of Imo State uses this corridor.
Captains of industry use this corridor.
Traditional rulers use this corridor.
Federal and state officials use this corridor.
Thousands of students use this corridor.
Yet nothing happens.
The obvious question is why.
Over the same period that this road has remained unfinished, numerous other road projects across the state have been completed.
This can only mean one thing.
There is a problem somewhere.
Whether the problem lies in political will, contractor competence, project supervision, engineering design, procurement decisions or a combination of all of them is best known to government.
What the public knows is that the road remains unfinished.
What the public sees is poor quality work.
What the public experiences daily is frustration.
And what the public remembers is the level of progress achieved under CHEC before the contract was terminated.
At this stage, many residents no longer believe that the present administration possesses either the determination or the urgency required to complete the project.
Perhaps the time has come for the government to admit its inability to deliver this road and actively pursue federal intervention.
Perhaps the corridor should be transferred to the Federal Government given its strategic importance and the number of federal institutions located along its route.
Or perhaps the people will simply have to wait for another administration to rescue them from what has become one of the most embarrassing infrastructure failures in recent Imo State history.
Whatever the answer may be, the people of Nekede, Ihiagwa, Obinze and Umuokanne have reached a conclusion.
They are tired.
They are fed up.
They will not beg anymore.
They will not cry anymore.
They will not celebrate promises anymore.
They simply want a road that should have been completed years ago.
The continued neglect of this corridor is not merely disappointing.
It is shameful.
And history will remember it as such.
By Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
Hon Chima Nnadi-Oforgu
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