SIR: No project presently demands the deployment of the ancillary roles of the press more than the infrastructure revolution of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Ikpeazu has kept to his promise of using the dry season window to fix the dilapidated Faulks Road. It will be recalled that Ikpeazu had earlier flagged off the reconstruction of 4.7km Faulks Road with a contract sum of N6.8 billion. This approach was to provide a permanent solution to the strategic road which has defied efforts by the previous government due to the menace of flood.
Ifeobara basin, an artificial lake, collects run off storm water from most part of Aba, especially the Ariaria area. The basin is usually filled with domestic waste, debris, silts and sediments which impede the underground drains to discharge water whenever there is heavy rain because they are blocked. Recovering and desilting the basin is strategic to a successful reconstruction of Faulks Road. It has been severally posited in the past that the past administrations failed in their bid to fix Faulks Road because proper attention was never given to Ifeobara basin. Also, Ifeobara is a major contributor to the problems Ukwi- Mango and the flood water along Faulks. Therefore, complementing the road reconstruction with 5.6km underground water channel would proffer a lasting solution to the lingering problems of both Ukwu-Mango and the flood water along Faulks Road.
Faulks Road is very strategic to the commercial life of Aba, the commercial- nerve of Abia State and indeed, the South-east. The road begins from Brass Junction by Aba-Owerri Road through Ukwu-Mango to Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. It also serves a major link to Ariaria International Market. Ariaria International Market which was established in the 1970s, is arguably is the largest market East of the Niger. The market cuts across three local government areas of Aba North, Aba South and Osisioma, and countries of West and Central Africa such as Cameroun and Gabon are served by the market. The market is the largest shoemaking cluster in Africa with 85 zones.
The media is expected to go beyond the surface of Ikpeazu government’s policies and programmes to explain, where necessary ask questions, to ensure that the public’s support is mobilised for such policies and programmes.
The mass media are both agenda setters and opinion moulders. They have enormous role to play in Ikpeazu’s infrastructure revolution in Abia State.
- Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu,
keshiafrica@gmail.com
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