BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has been applauded over the completion of the 16.4-kilometre Nawfija–Ajali–Ufuma–Ogbunka Road in Orumba South Local Government Area, a project residents describe as a turning point that has ended years of isolation and unlocked economic opportunities across the axis.
Vice President of Boardwalk Group and Abuja-based real estate developer, Chief Mrs. Obiageli Okwubanego, gave the commendation on Wednesday while speaking with journalists in Maitama, Abuja, describing the road as a major infrastructural achievement that has reshaped transportation, trade and rural connectivity in the area.
She said the once dilapidated road had for years made movement difficult for residents, farmers and visitors, particularly during festive seasons and community gatherings, adding that the completion of the project has significantly improved access and mobility within and beyond the communities.
Okwubanego recalled that the initial appeal for the road was made in 2019 when Governor Soludo attended the funeral mass of her late mother, Chief Mrs. Agnes Igwenagu Okeke, noting that the governor’s eventual response to the request reflected a commitment to addressing grassroots infrastructural needs.
According to her, when Soludo later declared his interest in contesting for governor, she encouraged her community to support him with the assurance that the road project would be delivered, while also requesting the extension of the road to Ogbunka, her maternal hometown.
She stated that the completed project has reduced travel time by about two hours and now serves as a strategic alternative route to the often congested Umunze Roundabout, thereby easing traffic flow for motorists across the region.
Travellers heading towards Umuaku in Abia State, as well as Okigwe and Ndi-Iziogu in Imo State, she noted, now use the corridor to avoid congestion, particularly during peak periods such as festive celebrations, weddings, and community meetings.
“For Christmas, Easter, August meetings, marriages and other celebrations, people can now travel home with ease and in large numbers,” she said, describing the development as a major relief to commuters and indigenes.
Okwubanego further said the project forms part of Soludo’s broader infrastructure and economic transformation agenda, adding that it has enhanced the movement of goods and services while stimulating local commerce across Orumba South.
She noted that residents of Nawfija had lived without a tarred road for decades until the intervention of the present administration, describing the development as historic and life-changing for the community.
According to her, the road has also significantly boosted agricultural activities in the area, especially palm oil production, which serves as a major source of livelihood for residents along the corridor.
She pointed out that the Onuoigbo palm plantation, spanning over 20 hectares in Nawfija, lies along the road axis, adding that improved access would ease evacuation of farm produce and strengthen agribusiness in the area.
On tourism potential, she said the improved road network would enhance access to the Ozi Stream, a popular site known for fishing and irrigation activities, thereby attracting visitors and boosting local economic activity.
“With easier access to the famous Ozi Stream, human and business activities in the area will increase significantly,” she said.
Okwubanego also reaffirmed her emotional attachment to Nawfija community, stating that her advocacy for the road was driven by a deep commitment to its welfare and development.
“My dear Nawfija community means so much to me, which is why I personally pleaded with His Excellency to give us this road. My passion for the community will always push me to look out for their welfare,” she added.
