Abia State Government says newly constructed road is intact and not washed away
The Abia State Government has refuted claims made in a recent social media video suggesting that a newly constructed road was washed away by storm water. The Commissioner for Works, Otumchere Oti, dismissed the rumors during an inspection of the ongoing reconstruction of Pepples Road and other roads in Aba on Tuesday.
While conducting journalists around the project sites, Oti clarified that there was no section of the Pepples Road, which is still under construction, that had been washed away by rainwater. He assured the public that the roads remain intact and that the construction work is progressing as planned.
The commissioner clarified that the portion of the road affected by stormwater was only where a loose stone base had been laid without any protective layer.
"The road wasn't washed off," he said. "The part impacted by the stormwater is where there's only loose stone base, which is unprotected. Given that it's still under construction, it's natural for loose material to be affected by heavy rain and floodwater. However, the road remains solid, and we're taking steps to prevent further damage."
He continued, "We've identified the source of the floodwater, which is coming from the right side due to a large catchment area that exceeds the capacity of the current drainage system. We're working on enhancements to prevent similar issues in the future."
Oti assured that the state government would take corrective measures to ensure the road is properly constructed and protected. He reiterated that the problem would not have arisen had the road been fully completed with protective layers.
"We're applying the necessary remedial measures to ensure this doesn't occur again," he added. "The flood carried away the loose material, but once the road is fully paved and protected, it will withstand heavy rain without issues."
Additionally, he noted that the flood brought considerable debris from various locations, causing additional strain on the drainage system. The government is addressing these challenges to avoid future problems.
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