A United Nations Peace Ambassador, Ikenna Offor, has expressed concern over the deplorable state of roads leading to the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport located in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area of the Anambra State.
Offor called on the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and the appropriate authorities concerned to rehabilitate the roads to create an easy access for passengers going to the Airport to fly to their various destinations.
The diplomat spoke to journalists at the airport on Friday, on his way back to the United Kingdom, where he is based.
Offor, a veteran journalist and former editor of the Peoples Newspaper said the manner with which the roads were abandoned to its present state constituted an eye-sore to both foreigners and Nigerians passing through the road enroute the Airport on a daily basis.
Speaking, he said, “Driving straight to the newly-built Anambra State cargo/passenger airport through Umueri routes which happens to be the shortest route to the only functional airport in Anambra State was quite a disappointing experience.
“At the time I travelled through the seemingly abandoned road said to be the shortest route to the only Anambra State passenger/cargo airport, there was no sign of road work or earth moving equipment at that road, yet we are almost in full rainy season.
“Giving the social economic relevance of this road, I hereby challenge the gentlemen of the forth- estate of the realm, as watch dogs of the society to investigate and report accordingly for general good”.
He lamented that relevant authorities are probably not quite aware of the deplorable state of that road given the current Anambra State administration’s positive drive in infrastructural development, aimed at attracting both internal and external investors to the state tagged “the light of the nation”.
“As first point of contact for all investors/potential investors and others coming to Anambra by air, this Umueri airport road presumably under construction should not be delayed anymore in order not to be completely washed away this rainy season.
“When completed, this quite important Umueri airport road will obviously assist in addressing a number of socio-economic and security challenges in Anambra state.
“This in turn will also help in driving current administration’s endeavour in all fronts aimed at ensuring a sustainable peace and development in the State and the nation at large,” he added.
Efforts to get the reaction of the state commissioner, Ifeanyi Okoma, on the development, proved abortive as several calls and messages to his phone line were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
However, a staff of the ministry, who craved anonymity, insisted that construction works have been going on but the contractor halted at the moment due to the rains.
