The road traverses Agbogugu, Isu-Awaa, Agbudu and Ihie town, all in Agwu Local Government Area of the state. The communities are still in a celebratory mood days after the facility was commissioned by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
Emperor Baywood Ibe, who maintained that the gesture was strictly a philanthropic one, had, on same day, handed over a one-storey classroom block and a remodelled church building he built for his native Isu-Awa community. The ceremonies were part of the activities he lined up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his union with his wife, Empress Pat Baywood Ibe who was also marking her 50th birthday.
During the road commissioning ceremony, FERMA assured that it would take over the maintenance of the facility if the Enugu State government failed to do so. FERMA Chairman, Mr. Ezekiel Olajide Adeniji, an engineer, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion, made the disclosure while cutting the tape to declare the road open. He commended Emperor Baywood Ibe for his magnanimity, maintaining that if one individual each in every state of the federation could do what the donor had done, the country would soon be blessed with an intricate road network.
“This is simply marvellous,” Mr. Adeniji noted. “It is amazing to note that one person could do this much for the good of his people. If we have one person each from every state and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja building about 8.5km road, we will soon have about 340km road network. In the whole country, we have 34, 120km of roads under the maintenance of FERMA. If everybody could emulate what Emperor Baywood Ibe has just done, it means that private individuals would be contributing one per cent to the road network under the care of the Federal government. For this reason, I wish to call on people like him to replicate his philanthropic example.
“The Enugu State government is expected to take over this facility because it is a state road. But if there is need for us in future to help, we will not hesitate to do that.”
And speaking about the quality of the road, Mr. Adeniji said: “I have been a civil engineer for more than 30 years. So, I can tell you that the quality of the road I’m seeing here is quite high. I’m particularly excited by the line drainage on the road, the bridges and the culverts. These features will help to elongate the road’s life span because there won’t be percolation of flood water anytime it rains. What that means is that the contractor did an excellent job and the technical quality is simply high.”
The commissioning ceremony took place on a hot, humid day. The visitors were literally grilling in the afternoon sun which continued to blaze with unusual intensity. But everyone in attendance was unfazed. While the ceremony was being awaited, some members of the benefiting communities engaged in singing and dancing as an appreciative crowd gathered at the Isu-Awa junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway where two canopies had been erected at a corner to shelter the dignitaries from the fury of the sun.
Among those present were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia; Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, Senator Annie Okonkwo; Mr. Nnanna Nze, Chairman, Agwu Local Government Area, who represented Enugu State governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, Barrister Cletus Anene who stood in for the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Air Vice Marshal Christian Chukwu of the Nigerian Air force and Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe from the presidency among others. There was also the strong presence of traditional rulers from Agwu Local Government Area and the clergy of the Anglican Communion within Enugu State and beyond. In the crowd also were visitors from South Africa, Italy, Zambia and Zimbabwe...
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