Awka capital city infrastructures are fast decaying amid neglect of the city by successive administrations and the ineffectuality of Awka community leaders. Twenty-eight years after Anambra State was created, it capital Awka remains a bedraggled and abandoned village-town with a highly undeveloped road infrastructure.
By Ndu Chris Nwannah, Awka Times Guest Writer
It was beautiful on the day of creation but it has turned sour in the expected season of celebration. The strong foundation laid for the emergence of Anambra State which has Awka as its capital seems to have been weakened by the apparent lack of will power and clear policies to drive a development agenda that would bring about the overall transformation of the area.
August 27, 2019 marked exactly the 28th anniversary of the creation of Anambra State. It was part of a cohort of nine states created by the regime of President Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1991 which increased the structure of Nigeria from 21 to 30 states.
It was a dream come true for the citizens of the new Anambra State. Indeed the indigenes of Awka counted themselves blessed on this very day.
However, a few decades on, this blessing seems to have turned into a curse. Expectations are far from being met, judging from the vision of the founding fathers of Anambra State with its capital in Awka.
The Victorious and Tortuous Journey
With the announcement of the splitting of the old Anambra into Anambra and Enugu states, there was celebration across the new Anambra State, especially in Awka. With the sharing of assets and critical institutions, it was time to settle down for the business of administering the infant state. The Permanent Site of the Anambra State College of Education, Awka became the Temporary Government House, hosting the offices of the Governor, principal officers and ministries to run the affairs of the state. This apparently led to the decision to merge the Awka College of Education with that of Nsugbe and its relocation to Nsugbe. Structures at GTC Awka (now FSTC), Awka South LGA Headquarters, and the Old Government Station Awka, among other private buildings were also utilized for administrative purposes.
In terms of administration, Anambra State has so far passed through such leaders as Joseph Abulu, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dabo Aliyu (Acting Administrator), Mike Attah, Rufai Garba, Emmanuel Ukaegbu, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Chris Ngige, Peter Obi, Virgy Etiaba and the incumbent Governor, Willie Obiano. These leaders each left their footprint in the state but they have not done enough to improve the status of Awka, the capital city, in terms of infrastructure development.
Overview of Road Infrastructure in Awka
Awka was one of the main urban settlements in the old Anambra State, along with Enugu, Onitsha, Nsukka and Abakaliki. Today, Awka likely has the least developed urban infrastructure among these majors, even with its status as a state capital.
The failure of infrastructure development in Awka started several decades ago, spanning the tenures of several administrators and governors. Successive administrations in the new Anambra State have done little or nothing to transform the capital.
One of the most glaring aspects of the neglect of Awka is in the area of road infrastructure. Three major roads pass through Awka, namely Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Old Road and Ekwulobia-Awka-Orlu Road. These are all federal Trunk A roads. The question is: what other road infrastructure have successive administrations developed in Awka?
Prior to the creation of the new Anambra State, several internal roads in Awka were in total disrepair. Many were completely unpaved. However, in the early years after the state was created, a few of the failed roads were reconstructed and new ones constructed using allocations from the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
The eight-lane road leading to Alex Ekwueme Square Awka was constructed by Dr Chinweoke Mbadinuju who also reconstructed part of the Awka-Okpuno-Isuanaocha-Mgbakwu road. Mbadinuju’s successor, Dr Chris Ngige, made a noticeable impact by initiating the reconstruction of the Old Enugu-Onitsha road within the Agu-Awka axis. The Awka-Nibo-Mbaukwu road was also tackled by the Ngige administration.
The spate of road construction in Awka slowed somewhat under Governor Peter Obi. He did however complete the reconstruction of the Old Enugu-Onitsha started by Ngige shortly before he was sacked by the Appeal Court. Roads within the Umudioka village axis were done under Obi while Iyiagu drainage across the Awka Expressway, which was blocked during the Mbadinuju administration, was opened to enhance the flow of flood.
During the interregnum of Dame Virgy Etiaba as Governor following the impeachment of Mr Peter Obi, the Arthur Eze road, formerly Achalla road was reconstructed. It was also Virgy Etiaba who initiated the construction of the Awka Inner Ring road from Umunnoke-Nkwelle through Agulu, ending at Ukwuoji.
The administration of Governor Willie Obiano has taken on some major road infrastructure projects. It completed three flyovers within the capital city. The Ukwuoji-Umuenechi-Umubelle-Nibo road project with a bridge across Obibia stream is ongoing. The dilapidated portion of Ifite section of Nnamdi Azikiwe University road has received some attention though work there seems haphazard. The government was also working on the road along the Unizik Gate-Amansea axis but, again, work there is stalled.
The State government is also pursuing the Esther Obiakor Estate road project. Apart from roads within the Awka city centre, most roads located in the Awka Capital Territory are begging for urgent attention. The Awka-Isuanaocha-Achalla road is a great link to the headquarters of Awka North Local Government Area at Achalla. The road is well known to the people as the Greenfield road, having been initiated by Governor Jim Nwobodo in the early eighties to connect several food producing communities in the old Awka. This job which was awarded by the Obiano administration on completion would reduce the burden of accessing Achalla by passing through four Local Government Areas. This job is yet to be completed, while several completed stretches are already crumbling. The Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbene- Ugbenu- Awba Ofemili road project inherited from the Peter Obi administration is strategic to the transformation of the Capital Territory. But this job has not received the attention of government as residents continue to lament its worsening condition.
A journey from Awka to Mgbakwu, a six-mile jaunt, ordinarily should take about 10 minutes. But it takes over 30 minutes to reach Radio Nigeria and Anambra State Polytechnic located in the community. The job for the reconstruction of the road is going on at a snail’s pace as its poor condition had forced visitors and workers to stop plying the route with their vehicles, while transporters increased their fares, thereby worsening the plight of the citizens.
Dilapidation of Awka Inner Roads
Awka must be among the state capitals in Nigeria with the largest number of unpaved or macadamized roads. In Amikwo community axis alone, Amikwo Road, Aguegbe Lane, Umusu Street, Okwuego Street, Sammy Sparkle/Amansea Lane, Isiagu-Amikwo Road, Ifeacho Street, Ezeokpue Lane, Ukwudala, Nnama, Ogbalingba, Gabriel Igwe, Umuoramago, Odumodu, Umudiana and host of other lanes are almost impassable. Numerous other roads located in Umudiana, Okperi, Igweogige, Isiagu and Obunagu villages, all in Amikwo are in the same condition. These areas have high population density, offices, businesses and hotels, attracting a horde of visitors and artisans. But vehicular movement is usually impeded due to bad roads.
In the same manner, roads in Ayom Na Okpala, Agulu, Ezi Awka, Amachalla Na Ato, Ifite and Nkwelle communities are in pitiable condition. A drive through Umukwa, Umuogwali, Umueri, Umuenechi, Omuko, Umubelle, Umueri, Umuayom, Amudo, Amachalla, Umuzocha, Achalla Oji, Umudiaba, Umuokpu and a host of other villages in Awka paints a horrible picture of people existing in the dark era. Yet, this is the capital city of Anambra State, the seat of government, where executive decisions are taken and matters of governance discussed.
The road infrastructure challenge in Awka is not just the failure to pave the inner-city roads but also that paved roads are poorly maintained, with pavement distress everywhere. Roads like Arthur Eze, Court Road, SM Okeke, Dike Street, Oby Okoli, Works Road, Obunagu Road, Ring Road, Umuoramma Road, Umuokpu bypass,, Kwata/Express/Obunagu Road, Amaenyi Girls’ Road, Ifite/All Saints Road, Old INEC, High Tension, Regina Caeli, Amaku Teaching Hospital, Ekwueme Square, ASUBEB/INEC, Juhel/Nodu/NUJ Secretariat and other roads are riddled with potholes and crocodile cracks, or littered with debris. In some cases large parts of the road surface pavements are completely worn, rutted or deeply distressed. Many roads in Awka have been damaged by erosion or yet have dangerous shoulder (pavement edge) drop-offs. But they are left but left unrepaired.
Awka roads are indeed, in many parts, a horrid eyesore. Across the town, miles and miles of decaying roads cause more than a shaky drive. They cause traffic snarl-up and travel delays; cost motorists huge premiums in vehicular damage and economic delays; and increase driving risks and health hazard. Roads pitted with potholes or those that lack features such as shoulders and rumble strips can cause collisions, putting drivers and passengers at greater risk of injury and even death.
The poor state of Awka these roads has undoubtedly left the citizens groaning and wondering why such infrastructures should be allowed to decay without appropriate attention. Even visitors to the area are left aghast as to the inability of the government to thoroughly embark on massive reconstruction of such roads. Awka residents longingly make references to roads and infrastructural development in Abakaliki and Enugu, the counterparts capital in Enugu and Ebonyi states.
Flood in the City
Road designs are closely associated with flood control in cities and other settlements. Professionally designed drainages aid easy flow of flood after rains. A few flood channels in Awka are masterfully built, but the majority are not deep enough and properly constructed to carry the volume of flood emanating from downpours in the area. The topography of the city is well set out that if drainages are thoughtfully designed, flooding of streets and homes will be a thing of the past.
For instance, floods from Umudioka and Umuzocha villages are expected to be channelled down to Ngene Ukwa stream by Aguegbe Amikwo axis, Obibia and Ofiachi streams as well as Iyiagu drainages. However most of the gutters are not linked to help the flow of flood, while they are lacking in some areas. The situation is also worsened by the fact that due to lack of tarred roads in hinterlands, flood usually carry sand and debris into the drains as well as major roads. This usually exacerbates the flood challenges in the city. The same situation applies to the upper Amaenyi and Ifite axis of Awka where floods were expected to have been channelled to flow downward to Ezu River, Obizi River and several rivulets that dot the city.
Human practices also contribute a lot to flooding apart from poorly constructed flood channels. Citizens are in the habit of throwing refuse into flood during rains. This debris eventually finds its way into the gutters and subsequently blocks the flow of flood. Some Awka residents also habitually dump their waste into drainages and along streets. These actions clearly negate efforts to ensure seamless flood flow and clean city as enunciated by the government, as the Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor, told Awka Times in an interview in his office.
Urgent Measures Needed to Fix Awka Infrastructure
Given the economic and social costs associated with infrastructure degeneration in Awka, it is scarcely surprising that residents, commuters and visitors have been speaking out with increasing frustration and resentment, demanding urgent measures to fix the city. They accuse the state government of neglecting its duties in the area. Those who bare their minds say that there is no real intention or a meaningful plan to the capital city 28 years after the creation of the new Anambra State. However, the State government denies any deliberate neglect of the capital city. Rather, Commissioner Ifejiofor told Awka Times that the government is coping with an unprecedented volume of rainfall this year, and promised that repair of the worst affected roads will be undertaken after the rainy season.
But many Awka indigenes do not accept the excuse about excessive rainfall. Retired school principal, Mr Ejike Onyechi, blamed the issue on lack of political will and poor planning. According to him, it is due to poor planning that a little drop of rain creates massive flooding in the heart of the capital.
Chief Keluo Dike, a former Councilor in the Awka South Legislative Council, told Awka Times that the condition of Awka is worrisome. He noted that most of the critical roads in Awka today are those built by the PTF several years ago, and insisted that no conscious effort has been made to offer Awka a befitting outlook by past and present administrations.
Community leader, Chief Paul Okeke, also bemoans the infrastructural crisis bedeviling Awka capital city. Chief Okeke told Awka Times that the situation called for a surgical overhaul. He pointed out that Awka is “dotted with impassable roads”, and that the capital city “deserves a better treatment than what presently obtains”.
A tricycle operator, John Odoh who hails from Ebonyi State, told Awka Times that operators like him are the worst hit by the dilapidation of Awka roads. He complained that “mechanics are taking most part of the money we generate as no week passes without my keke going for maintenance”. Odoh pleaded for immediate solution to the road decay in the area through the rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of new ones.
Frustration over the infrastructure decay in Awka is palpable. But some inhabitants have become cynical, telling Awka Times that they no longer wish to speak on the issue because in the past their impassioned pleas and complaints were ignored by the authorities.
But others are still willing to express their frustration, hoping that the government will listen. Secretary of the Igweogige Village Assembly of Awka, Comrade Charles Umeadu Nworah, is still hopeful despite his deep disillusion about the plight of Awka, which he likened Awka to the proverbial goose which lays the golden egg, and the neglect of the city by successive administrations. As Nworah told Awka Times,
“It is unfortunate that Awka people find themselves in this pitiable situation. I don’t know why the present generation that clamoured for Awka as a capital could not enjoy the benefits of the capital. We have gone to places. We have lived in places. For instance in Lagos…go to Mushin the whole roads are tarred. Come to Awka, where are the roads? What benefits have we derived that Awka was made the capital? The Awka hinterland is totally abandoned. Come to Amikwo where I live, there is no road there that is tarred. In fact this rainy season caused more havoc in Awka than it caused in other areas”.
Comrade Nworah further challenged the government to quickly put measures in place to address the myriad problems facing the capital city.
“Government is for the people and people are for the government. They should touch the lives of the common people living in the hinterlands so that they will have a sense of belonging, because with the way things are going, when you tell an average Awka man that he is from the capital, he will say God forbid. What makes him a capital man? When there is no light in his place, when there is no pipe borne water in his place, when there is no tarred road in his place and when there is no drainage in his place”, he said.
Comrade Nworah noted that the solution lies in government embarking on projects that will actually touch the lives of the common people residing in the capital city and its environs.
However, the Anambra State government was quick to assert that it had not abandoned Awka capital. Commissioner for Works, Ifejiofor, protested in the interview with Awka Times that many road projects are going on within the Awka Capital Territory. According to him, the Ukwuoji-Umuenechi-Nibo Road is ongoing at the Awka end.
When the Ukwuoji-Nibo road was awarded it received serious applause from the inhabitants. The bridge across Obibia stream has been constructed with most of the earth work already delivered. Mr Ifejiofor explained that work on the road was hampered by the heavy rains this season as the terrain is swampy and slippery. He however assured that the job would be delivered in the dry season.
The Commissioner also mentioned other projects going on in Awka such as Esther Obiakor, Immigration, Millennium and Unizik Gate to Amansea. Mr Ifejiofor revealed that the state government has concluded plans to award contract for the construction of roads within the Agulu community in Awka after completing due process.
On the failure of government to repair the damaged roads in Awka, Mr Ifejiofor insisted that the rains impeded such but assured that government is using the seasonal downtime to determine the most critical of the dilapidated areas to focus on.
The commissioner conceded that while some drainages in Awka are well-designed and functional, others are not properly channelled. He said that the government is aggressively desilting gutters in Awka and other major settlements in order to reduce flooding and allow for easy flow of flood.
Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Community Liaison, Comrade Obi Ochije-Modilim, also told Awka Times that government is doing its bit to change the fortunes of the area, and he challenged citizens to complement such efforts. Ochije-Modilim is unhappy that inhabitants throw refuse into the drainage, while a handful of others use structures to block waterways. He urged the authorities not to hesitate to demolish such building in their efforts to transform Awka into a model city.
Urgent Measures Needed to Fix Awka Infrastructure
Given the economic and social costs associated with infrastructure degeneration in Awka, it is scarcely surprising that residents, commuters and visitors have been speaking out with increasing frustration and resentment, demanding urgent measures to fix the city. They accuse the state government of neglecting its duties in the area. Those who bare their minds say that there is no real intention or a meaningful plan to the capital city 28 years after the creation of the new Anambra State. However, the State government denies any deliberate neglect of the capital city. Rather, Commissioner Ifejiofor told Awka Times that the government is coping with an unprecedented volume of rainfall this year, and promised that repair of the worst affected roads will be undertaken after the rainy season.
But many Awka indigenes do not accept the excuse about excessive rainfall. Retired school principal, Mr Ejike Onyechi, blamed the issue on lack of political will and poor planning. According to him, it is due to poor planning that a little drop of rain creates massive flooding in the heart of the capital.
Chief Keluo Dike, a former Councilor in the Awka South Legislative Council, told Awka Times that the condition of Awka is worrisome. He noted that most of the critical roads in Awka today are those built by the PTF several years ago, and insisted that no conscious effort has been made to offer Awka a befitting outlook by past and present administrations.
Community leader, Chief Paul Okeke, also bemoans the infrastructural crisis bedeviling Awka capital city. Chief Okeke told Awka Times that the situation called for a surgical overhaul. He pointed out that Awka is “dotted with impassable roads”, and that the capital city “deserves a better treatment than what presently obtains”.
A tricycle operator, John Odoh who hails from Ebonyi State, told Awka Times that operators like him are the worst hit by the dilapidation of Awka roads. He complained that “mechanics are taking most part of the money we generate as no week passes without my keke going for maintenance”. Odoh pleaded for immediate solution to the road decay in the area through the rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of new ones.
Frustration over the infrastructure decay in Awka is palpable. But some inhabitants have become cynical, telling Awka Times that they no longer wish to speak on the issue because in the past their impassioned pleas and complaints were ignored by the authorities.
But others are still willing to express their frustration, hoping that the government will listen. Secretary of the Igweogige Village Assembly of Awka, Comrade Charles Umeadu Nworah, is still hopeful despite his deep disillusion about the plight of Awka, which he likened Awka to the proverbial goose which lays the golden egg, and the neglect of the city by successive administrations. As Nworah told Awka Times,
“It is unfortunate that Awka people find themselves in this pitiable situation. I don’t know why the present generation that clamoured for Awka as a capital could not enjoy the benefits of the capital. We have gone to places. We have lived in places. For instance in Lagos…go to Mushin the whole roads are tarred. Come to Awka, where are the roads? What benefits have we derived that Awka was made the capital? The Awka hinterland is totally abandoned. Come to Amikwo where I live, there is no road there that is tarred. In fact this rainy season caused more havoc in Awka than it caused in other areas”.
Comrade Nworah further challenged the government to quickly put measures in place to address the myriad problems facing the capital city.
“Government is for the people and people are for the government. They should touch the lives of the common people living in the hinterlands so that they will have a sense of belonging, because with the way things are going, when you tell an average Awka man that he is from the capital, he will say God forbid. What makes him a capital man? When there is no light in his place, when there is no pipe borne water in his place, when there is no tarred road in his place and when there is no drainage in his place”, he said.
Comrade Nworah noted that the solution lies in government embarking on projects that will actually touch the lives of the common people residing in the capital city and its environs.
However, the Anambra State government was quick to assert that it had not abandoned Awka capital. Commissioner for Works, Ifejiofor, protested in the interview with Awka Times that many road projects are going on within the Awka Capital Territory. According to him, the Ukwuoji-Umuenechi-Nibo Road is ongoing at the Awka end.
When the Ukwuoji-Nibo road was awarded it received serious applause from the inhabitants. The bridge across Obibia stream has been constructed with most of the earth work already delivered. Mr Ifejiofor explained that work on the road was hampered by the heavy rains this season as the terrain is swampy and slippery. He however assured that the job would be delivered in the dry season.
The Commissioner also mentioned other projects going on in Awka such as Esther Obiakor, Immigration, Millennium and Unizik Gate to Amansea. Mr Ifejiofor revealed that the state government has concluded plans to award contract for the construction of roads within the Agulu community in Awka after completing due process.
On the failure of government to repair the damaged roads in Awka, Mr Ifejiofor insisted that the rains impeded such but assured that government is using the seasonal downtime to determine the most critical of the dilapidated areas to focus on.
The commissioner conceded that while some drainages in Awka are well-designed and functional, others are not properly channelled. He said that the government is aggressively desilting gutters in Awka and other major settlements in order to reduce flooding and allow for easy flow of flood.
Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Community Liaison, Comrade Obi Ochije-Modilim, also told Awka Times that government is doing its bit to change the fortunes of the area, and he challenged citizens to complement such efforts. Ochije-Modilim is unhappy that inhabitants throw refuse into the drainage, while a handful of others use structures to block waterways. He urged the authorities not to hesitate to demolish such building in their efforts to transform Awka into a model city.
