Cattle delaying rehabilitation of Enugu- Port-Harcourt expressway , SETRACO complains

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Area Manager of SETRACO Nig. Ltd, Mr Fouad Sarraf, has complained that the movement of cows and the overflow of the Cattle Market at Lokpanta in Umunneochi council of Abia State are seriously hampering the on-going rehabilitation of the Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway.

Sarraf who lodged the complaint to the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, during his visit over the weekend, said the uncoordinated and chaotic movement of cattle around the Lokpanta axis as well as the indiscriminate parking of trucks on both lanes of highway around the cattle market had adversely affected the pace of work on the road.

Our correspondent observed  that  heavy duty trucks and the cattle market had spilled into the dual carriageway, hampering smooth traffic flow besides constituting environmental hazard to the area. 

There has  been public outcry over the mindless blocking of the dual carriage way on Fridays during prayers by a particular religious adherents who dominate the market.

 

The Minister, however,  noted the complaint and promised to look into it .

Addressing newsmen after the inspection,  Fashola expressed delight that substantial progress had been recorded on the entire project.

The Minister said SETRACO had done over 40 per cent of the rehabilitaion work on the expressway, and expressed hope the project would be completed before December this year.

He commended  SUKUK for its financial intervention which according to him helped in facilitating the project.

Fashola said that the ministry would apply for another intervention from SUKUK so that more money would be made available to the contractors to ensure the completion of the project before the next rainy season.