…as FERMA blames devastating effect of flood
The ongoing work on the gully erosion site in Ogbaru Relief, (Main) Market, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA has been suspended following devastating effect of flood in the area.
The flood reportedly washed away 60 per cent of the repair work done on the gully site that has collapsed more than 10 shops, exhumed underground electric cables, pipes bone water, electric poles, among others.
Speaking to newsmen weekend, chairman of the market, Chief Ogbogu Nwanodi, urged residents and traders whose shops were collapsed by the flood to take heart.
He said, “I’ve discussed with Federal Road Maintainance Agency (FERMA), and asked them why work on the erosion site was stopped abruptly and they told me that it was because of the devastating effect of the flood.
“That repair work that has gone up to 60 percent completion on October, has been washed away by the flood, including some materials and that work would resume on the site by November when the flood would have subsided,
“So I am pleading with those living in ogbaru and also the traders to exercise some patience, that we are used to flooding and it is the cause of the recent bad market.
“It will soon be a thing of the past, and I am equally pleading to the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the Ogbaru people and other riverine areas by solving the issue of annual flooding”, he pleaded.
Reacting on alleged construction of illegal structures in the market that led to the sack of former caretaker chairman and his secretary, Nwanodi said, “We are moving around the market telling people not to build illegal structures unless they have an approval permit from the State Government, especially Physical Planning Board and letter from the Ministry of Trade and commerce”.
In his bid to make life confortable for the traders, the chairman restored to function, seven unfuctional boreholes which stopped work since November .2020, and bought sumors for them.
“I also bought 50 PCs of solar light energy today to make sure there is light in the market and to help traders. I am pleading to the traders to remember me in their prayers and equally present their useful advice/information that will help to take ogbaru market to greater height,” he pleaded.
