REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Anambra State Government says it will not commit additional public funds to repair defective sections of newly constructed roads that are still within the contractors’ defect liability period.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Okey Ezeobi, stated this while inspecting the Amawbia-Agulu Road, where some sections have deteriorated due to water-related challenges.
Ezeobi explained that the road had not been formally handed over to the state government, making the construction company responsible for correcting defects identified within the stipulated liability period.
He said government policy requires newly constructed roads to undergo at least one full rainy season to expose structural weaknesses that might not be immediately apparent after construction.
According to him, the current rainy season is expected to reveal vulnerable sections, enabling the contractor to carry out the necessary remedial work before the government formally accepts the project.
The commissioner attributed some of the challenges along the corridor to the area’s geological characteristics, noting that the road passes through a low-lying, flood-prone stretch where accumulated water damages the asphalt surface.
He also identified human activities as a contributing factor, particularly the operations of horticultural businesses that obstruct natural water channels to retain water within their premises, thereby worsening drainage problems along the road.
Ezeobi said the government was addressing the competing interests of businesses and road users by protecting drainage channels and the road’s right of way.
He appealed to residents to continue reporting road failures through social media, describing public feedback as useful in helping government authorities and contractors identify and correct defects while the liability period remains active.
The commissioner also directed businesses operating along the corridor to maintain a minimum distance of three metres from the road’s right of way.