UN Peace Ambassador Decries Deplorable State Of Roads Leading To Anambra Cargo Airport

By Chuks Eke

An eminent United Nations Peace Ambassador, Ikenna Offor has called on appropriate government authorities concerned to rehabilitate the dilapidated roads leading to Anambra International Cargo to create easy access for passengers.

He said the manner in which the roads were abandoned to their present state constituted an eye-sore for both foreigners and Nigerians passing through them en route to the Airport on a daily basis.

Speaking to newsmen at the Airport on his way back to the United Kingdom, UK, his base, Offor, a veteran journalist and former editor of the Peoples Newspaper based in Onitsha, Anambra state, expressed serious concern over the deplorable state of the roads leading to the Airport located at Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

According to the global diplomat, “Driving straight to the newly built Anambra State cargo/passenger airport through the Umueri route 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 roads 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 on the roads yet we’re almost in full rainy season”.

He further declared: “Giving the social and economic relevance of this road, I hereby challenge the gentlemen of the fourth estate of the realm, as watchdogs of society to investigate and report accordingly for the general good”.

He lamented that relevant authorities are probably not aware of the deplorable state of the roads 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 the first point of contact for all investors/potential investors and others coming to Anambra by air, this Umueri airport road and other adjoining roads presumably under construction shouldn’t be delayed anymore and not be completely washed away this rainy season”.

“When completed, he contended, these quite significant Umueri airport roads will obviously help address a number of socio-economic and security challenges in Anambra state.

This, in turn, will also help in driving the current administration’s endeavour on all fronts aimed at ensuring sustainable peace and development in the State and the nation at large”.

Efforts to reach the state Commissioner for Works, Hon. Ifeanyi Okoma were not successful as he did not pick up several calls nor reply to texts sent to him. This was at the time of filing this report.