The Enugu State Government has approved the construction of phase one of the 22 kilometre road in Isiuzo Council Area to reduce insecurity and improve agricultural activities in the area.
Mr Gerald Otiji, the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting on Friday in Enugu.
The commissioner said the construction of the road was imperative as many of the communities in the LGA were displaced last year as a result of herdsmen attack.
According to him, Gov. Peter Mbah, having visited the area, saw a vast area of land but lacked access road, adding that people there are predominantly farmers and agro workers.
The governor was not happy seeing that people were chased out of their homes because the area borders our neighbouring states,” he said.
Otiji, who said that about 300 military personnel were already there, added that the road if constructed would give access and quick response for any distress call by the residents.
“The army will build barracks there to give confidence to the people, make them come back home and thrive in their agro business.
“Our own part is to make sure that we provide them with good road that will enable the military and the people to carry their equipment and agro produce in and out from the area,” he said.
Corroborating what Otiji said, the State Commissioner for Environment, Prof. Sam Ugwu, who hailed from the LGA, explained that the approval of the road was a response from the state government on the prevailing security challenges in the area
He said the insecurity was more along the boundaries with Benue and Ebonyi States.
“On these boundaries, we experience a lot of communal clashes between farmers and herdsmen. Last year, we lost a lot of lives within the LGAs as a result of the crisis.
“Enugu State Government, in its magnanimity, has responded positively to ensure that the ugly incident comes to end,” Ugwu said.
