Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano,has revealed that the Federal Government is owing the state to the tune of N25billion. Obiano made this revelation while inspecting the erosion sites along the Onitsha and Owerri Expressways on Saturday, October 31, 2015.
He reiterated that the Federal Government owed the state N25billion accruing from construction of federal roads in the state.
“This is the reason why we must get permission from the Federal Government before embarking on palliatives on the eroded site.
“It is very clear from the gravity of the erosion that the state alone cannot handle the project with its meagre resources because it will run into billions of naira’’, Obiano explained.
Thus, the governor called on the Federal Government to save the Onitsha/Enugu Express Road and Onitsha/Owerri Expressway from imminent collapse due to erosion menace.
The Onitsha-Enugu road has caved-in at the foot of the fly-over at the new parts, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state while erosion has cut-off one lane at two points at Okija-Ihiala axis of Onitsha-Owerri road.
Obiano said erosion posed danger to human lives and business activities in the area. Adding that he had made contact with the Presidency after inspecting the site recently.
He further disclosed that he had mandated IDC Construction Company to mobilise to site and start palliative works to save the road.
The governor, however, advised Anambra people to bear with the state while it persuades the Federal Government to come to its aid and save the people from danger posed by the bad roads.