The Community's Eye Speaks on the Igbei Storm Water/Erosion Control Project

🖊️ Enaholo J.K.
auchiblog@gmail.com
+2348069055018

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Igbei Road is the busiest road in Auchi for so many reasons.
While it's a commercial jugular on the one hand, it is on the other hand the path taken by vehicles coming from the express as the quickest way to access Auchi's Economic Hub.

However, the story changed few years ago when run-off water caused deep gullies that eroded the road together with people's businesses and for years big brands like Jovenson, Bendel Supermarket and the likes that I can't remember to mention at the moment dropped out of business because there was no access road anymore to their products and service area.

Today, as you read, Asphalting of IGBEI Road is ongoing after years of massive erosion control mechanisms from Akharuma (Pond 01) along the Express just beside NNPC MEGA STATION down to Pond 02 at the IKELEBE SPORTS ARENA aka Public Field through to Barta Shop area (into the Large Drain that runs through Afeadokhai).

However, certain concerns are being registered by some people who have either monitored the work by visiting the area or through the livestreams I've churned out on AUCHI BLOGspot .

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS?
Firstly, HRH, Alh. A.H. Momoh had taken out time to go through all the areas being worked on and during this exercise certain salient points had to be noted:

1. Although the work is close to its completion as stated by the contractor, the remaining land around Pond 01 seem to be too untidy to be left the way it is. The area is too sandy and the sands are too fine _the sands are so fine that they can be carried by winds thereby causing a dusty environment whenever the winds are breezing. If the winds can carry these fine grains of sand it therefore means that when it rains, the soil will suffer adversely from the rains' erosive proclivity.

2. It also appeared that roads such as the one at Abu Inu-Umoru street and other adjourning roads that were affected in the course of the water control project aren't going to be asphalted. This, if true will be counterproductive to the work done so far (when the rains begin to pour down as they surely will soon start) given the way cumulus clouds smile at us daily _signalling the coming of the raining season.

3. I.C.E road, an intersection between Auchi Polytechnic road and Igbei road seem to have been abandoned to fate even though NEWMAP and it's Chinese contractors could have repaired this small piece in addition to its corporate social responsibility to the host community _Auchi.

Perusing the above observations, during the Otaru of Auchi's inspection, we are calling on the relevant authorities (NEWMAP) to do the needful in view of getting a good job done to the Glory of God and for the benefit of man.

Now let's add one more concern. A more recent one _concerning the asphalting of the road.
We can call it the number 4th point.

4. The asphalt on the road seem too thin for a path such as Igbei road. Except that there is workable and logical plan to limit the amount of traffic on that road, it will be futile to have such a thin (not more than 2inches thick) asphalt on the road. The fear expressed here is that with the passing of time (in no distant duration) the asphalt will tear, wear, break or peel off when agents of erosion and locomotion weigh in.

Having brought all these to your notice, please drop your constructive criticisms to better help those who have been given the onerous task of repairing Igbei road do well. This is not an avenue to bicker nor cause disaffection. It is not an opportunity to show ingratitude.
The people of Auchi Sacred Kingdom are a grateful people but they deserve better and that's what they'll get if God wills.

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We hope all these points and more get to NEWMAP, the Federal Government, Edo State Government and other relevant agencies for the desired attention and response.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Edo State Government and her people, God bless Auchi Sacred Kingdom, God Bless our Noble King, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, Otaru of of Auchi and the people of the most Hospitable Community of the world _Auchi.