The Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led Anambra State government has reacted to the report and videos attached that a newly constructed road in Ochanja Market in the Woliwo community of Onitsha South local government area was washed away by an afternoon downpour.
Residents had expressed their concerns over the poor and shoddy jobs the administration of Governor Soludo is executing in the state despite paying billions of taxpayers money for the projects.
They wondered how 20 minutes of rainfall could have caused the massive washing away of the road constructed barely one week ago, and what would happen by June in other roads the government had executed.
One of the posts accompanying the video, partly read: "Prof Chukwuma Soludo's one week old Road washed away in a split second.
"The "Dubai-Taiwan" Ochanja market road in Onitsha constructed with billions of Anambra taxpayers' money has just been washed away by just one episode of 20 minutes rainfall on Monday 25th of March 2024
"The rainfall exposed the nature of poor quality jobs executed by the government."
But the Commissioner for Works in the state, Engr Ifeanyi Okoma, denied the video, describing it as manipulated to give the impression that the road recently commissioned by Governor Soludo had been destroyed by the first major rain.
According to him, the only two roads commissioned in Onitsha by the Governor are Port Harcourt and Niger roads, stressing that they are both in good condition.
“The constructor worked on Sunday and they stopped on a little bridge and closed for the day. A few hours after he had worked, there was a heavy downpour and the bridge, which is less than one foot, a little bit got washed off.”
Also speaking, the contactor, Mark Tu said, “When we saw the pictures and videos, we were also very shocked. As to where we stopped the work, it was just maybe one foot that was affected.
“The road is still under construction and from today, we are still going to continue the work. We are happy that Anambra people are watching us well.”