Ukpor Road Project Issue: My Independent Consultation Report, By Emeka Odionu

Ukpor is a beautiful town,blessed with men of vision and ideas with abundant mineral resources like laterite,"nzu" and local stones.

Ukpor is the headquarters of Nnewi south Local govt. area in Anambra state,Nigeria.
For some weeks now, there has been negative reports about the federal road project attracted by Hon Chris Azubogu, member representing Nnewi north,south and Ekwusigo in federal house, Abuja on social media.

News like the alleged arrest of operators by Ocha brigade working in Ukpor and the seizing of operating machines by Anambra state government.

No sooner had the issue restored than another news kept trending online last week that Anambra state government came to the site at Ukpor,arrested the operators , took them to Awka and seized the machines working on the site.

Just like our society, it was turned into politics as members of the opposition party in Anambra state started making political comments that the youths Anambra state government used in Ukpor to stop the work were APGA youths in Ukpor being sponsored by APGA major stakeholders from Ukpor.

Is it possible that APGA youths from Ukpor should be that wicked and unreasonable to stop development attracted by a federal legislator to their town?

As a concerned Anambrarian, I thought it wise to find out what's really happening at Ukpor. I spoke with the two major stake holders from Ukpor who are not partisan, Igwe Ukpor and Ukpor PG and I also enquired from the chairman, house committee on Environment.

HRH Igwe Dr Felix Onyimadu (Nwajiaku V1) is the traditional ruler of Ukpor and I called him on phone yesterday as regards this lingering issue in Ukpor, he said he was not aware of this and no official information has come to his palace as regards the road project going on in Ukpor.

However, Igwe Ukpor said that in 2016, a committee on solid minerals set up by Anambra state government came to his palace to solicit for help and co-operation knowing that Ukpor has lots of "Burrow pit where laterites are extracted" "local chalk "nzu" and local stones.

Igwe Ukpor was of the view that there is a law promulgated by Anambra state house of assembly on the use of laterite by contractors and certain percentage goes to the state government.

According to Igwe Onyimadu, Uboma village in Ukpor has "burrow pit" which has been in existence for years and that the community that owns the land do collect some money from contractors and Anambra state government collects hers and contractor that constructed Awka-Etiti -Isseke road used the laterite there and the contractor handling Nnewi-Okigwe road use the laterite at Uboma village too.

In Continuation, Igwe Nwajiaku V1 said he was aware of the problem between two faction of the youths some months ago as regards the laterite at Uboma village with one faction accusing the other faction of collecting money from the contractor, eating alone which ended up in a faction locking up the other faction in police.

Am aware that even those that have local stones in their lands pay a certain amount to Anambra state government and it has nothing to do with political affiliation.

After speaking with HRH Igwe Onyimadu Felix who is the number one citizen of Ukpor, I spoke with the number two citizen and the PG of Ukpor, Rtd Col Ogunna.

Ogunna said he was aware of the trending news online  and that he got a call the previous day from Hon Chris Azubogu who complained about what I just told him.

According to Ukpor PG, Hon Azubogu told him that he wants to complete the project before the rain becomes heavier but Anambra state government has been frustrating him and might likely stop the work.

Hon Azubogu lamented that his operator was arrested three days ago and locked up by Anambra state government.

Few hours ago, I spoke with the chairman, Anambra state house committee on Environment and the chief Whip and the member representing Dunukofia constituency at the state house, Hon Law Ezeudu.

According to Hon Ezeudu (Cheleku), laterite falls into ministry of Environment and as the chairman of the committee on Environment, there is an amount to pay the state government before any contractor could use laterite which falls into exclusive list and that will be after Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried out.

Hon Ezeudu said that (EIA) helps in checking the environment, understanding the environment, knowing how hilly the dump is, where to dig, where not to dig lest we find ourselves in the situation at Oba which will cost the state government lots of money to plant trees to control the erosion that may soon hit the place.

Hon Ezeudu said that Anambra state is an Erosion prone state and no contractor has any right to negotiate with any community without involving Anambra state government for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before using any "burrow pit".

"It's against the law for anybody to start carrying laterite without complying with Anambra state government and taking cognizance of the erosion ravaging Anambra state.

"It's sabotage,taboo,wickedness to be cutting down hills without complying with laws of the state," says Hon Ezeudu Law, Chairman house committee on Environment.

From my conversation with Igwe Ukpor, Ukpor PG and Hon Ezeudu, one can easily understand what is really going on.

Igwe Ukpor said he wasn't aware of the issue at the construction site and I wonder whether social media is the first place to report such a thing or the palace of the traditional ruler of Ukpor.

PG Ukpor said that Hon Azubogu called him and complained and if I were at the receiving end,I would have asked Hon Azubogu of the relationship between him and the ministry of environment, Awka as regards the use of laterite at Uboma village, Ukpor.

Hon Law Ezeudu said he wasn't aware of any crisis in Ukpor as regards the on -going road construction but now he knows, he should reach out to the contractor,go to the site with members of his committee and find a lasting solution.

Hon Chris Azubogu did very well by attracting a road project to Ukpor but there is a process for its against the law to legalize illegality.

Hon Chris Azubogu should work with the ministry of Environment, Awka.

Ndi-Ukpor should stop playing politics with the development of their town. Ukpor is bigger than APC, PDP, APDA and APGA.

Rushing to social media or sponsoring E-rats to speak against the state government as regards development in Ukpor should stop.

I remember Igwe Ukpor telling me that he was not happy reading negative things about Ukpor General hospital online for the only way to attract development to your town is by supporting the incumbent and bringing your genuine reasons  to the government on why you want certain things to be done and it's only love shown to the government that attracts development and not hate publication in the media.