Abia Community Rejects Road Construction By Hon. Benjamin Kalu

The people of Umuhu Ezechi, in Bende local government area of Abia State have expressed disgust and disappointment over the road construction work by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu in the community.

They rejected the quality of the work as the contractor handling the project used substandard materials which led to the collapse of the gutters within few weeks of construction. They wondered why the number six citizen of the country would allow such in his constituency.

A visit to the site showed that the contractor used gauze wire for the drainage on a swampy soil. Even the mixture of the concrete work was rather too soft to stand. One could use bare hands to break the edges.

Speaking to newsmen, the immediate past councilor for the area, Hon. Ifeanyi Osondu Ukoji who was visibly angry said the job was a slight to the community adding that they would prefer the road to remain to having such a shabby construction.

“I want Honourable Benjamin Kalu to visit the site and see the kind of poor work they are doing here. It is better he leaves it like this than giving us this kind of job.”

“Is he trying to play to the gallery or what? This is too bad.”

Another respondent who does not want his name on print said the workers should leave the community instead of doing such a poor work on the road.

“We have suffered over the years because of this road and we have been begging the government to come to our aide. But then, this is not the kind of road we want. It is better we don’t have, than to build this type for us.”

The villagers asked the contractors to leave the site if they would not do a thorough job for them.

A video trending online shows a collapsed drainage that looked newly constructed.

Others who responded through WhatsApp messages expressed dismay w and disappointment with the job.

Dream News reached out to Livinus Nwabughiogu, the Chief Press Secretary to Honourable Benjamin Kalu, he explained that it was due to heavy rains that washed away the work and that the work will resume when the rain subsides, adding that the Deputy Speaker is committed to delivering quality work for his constituents.

According to him, the nature of the soil in the area made the construction work difficult for the contractors. He said they lost some materials to flooding which made them to pause the work.