Tragedy Averted In Umunya Community Today As Trailer Fell

          

Tension was high as Passers bye ran for their dear lives abandoning their vehicles and wares when a trailer carrying Kerosene with registration number SLK 24 XA fell on the Onitsha Enugu Expressway part of at Umunya Oyi Local Government Area, almost the same place a tanker carrying Petrol fell and caught fire in 2004, killing about 80 passengers who were burnt to ashes.

But when realizing that it was Kerosene and not petrol, they hurriedly returned to their vehicles and business scenes.

There was no life lost but vehicular movement was made impossible as kerosene that were pouring away covered the road and people were afraid to drive pass the road, while the driver and his conductor were helpless trying to control the outflow of the kerosene.

Sympathizers who were also helpless about the situation blamed the accident on the pitiable condition of the road said to have been awarded to Niger Cat Construction Company over five years ago that is yet to be completed.

The road was divided between CCC Construction Company and Niger Cat Construction Company due to the slow rate of work by the former contractor handling the road.

From Niger Bridge Head Onitsha and former Toll Gate Ogbunike  awarded to CCC which has completed that part but the Niger Cat is yet to complete the Umunya to Amawabia Awka end of the road.

 According to one of the eye Mr. Kelechi Akum, “we do not know if this road is jinxed, you will recall that it was just a stone throw from here that a tanker caring petrol fell and caught fire where over 80 people were trapped and burnt to ashes”.

It will be recalled that former Governor Peter Obi, worried by the slow pace of the construction of the road and the incessant accident that occurs on daily basis on the road demanded that it be given to Anambra State Government for completion and the Minister of Works Mr. Mike Onolememen was invited to the state where the former governor discussed the issue with him at the Governors Lodge.

 Most of the people who were at the since of the incident when Vanguard visited the scene were blaming the Federal Ministry of Works for uncaring attitude towards completing the road, while some blame it on the Federal Government for not releasing the money for the contract to the contactor.

 Some were even saying that the state Government has taken over the road project from the Federal Government but have not made enough effort to complete the road as it stands no contractor is currently on the road, making it unclear who between the state and Federal Government who is doing the road.

 The people of the state have therefore, called on the new state Governor Chief Willie Obiano to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Works to complete the road if it is still in the hands of the Federal Government, just as they urged the state Government to complete the road if it has been handed over to the state. 

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