Vehicular movement has been brought to a standstill after severe erosion cut off a section of the Oji–Awgu Federal Highway, a major road linking several communities in Oji River and Awgu Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
The incident occurred following a heavy downpour that began on Friday night and continued into Saturday morning, causing extensive damage to the critical road corridor.
Federal Lawmaker Calls for Emergency Intervention
Leading a joint inspection of the affected area, the member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, described the development as unfortunate and deeply concerning.
According to him, a significant section of the federal highway was completely washed away by erosion triggered by the heavy rainfall, cutting off connectivity between affected communities.
Onwuegbu appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works to treat the situation as an emergency, stressing the need for immediate reconstruction to restore access and ease the hardship currently faced by residents and commuters.
The lawmaker, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasized that urgent action is required to prevent further deterioration and economic disruption in the area.
Oji River Chairman Commends Swift Response
Also speaking during the inspection, the Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Hon. Greg Anyaegbudike, commended Onwuegbu for his prompt intervention following the incident.
Anyaegbudike praised the federal lawmaker for facilitating the visit of the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State to assess the damage firsthand.
He urged continued engagement with the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters in Abuja to secure approval for emergency reconstruction works.
Federal Controller Identifies Cause of Road Failure
The Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, Engr. Smart Emesim, expressed shock over the extent of the damage caused by the erosion.
According to Emesim, the road failure resulted largely from the improper termination of culvert outlets, which accelerated water flow and weakened the road embankment.
He explained that the affected drainage infrastructure was not included in the original road construction contract, leaving the corridor vulnerable to erosion.
The controller assured residents that the Federal Ministry of Works would commence the necessary processes to address the emergency and restore the damaged section of the highway.
Additional Erosion Threats Discovered
During the inspection exercise, officials identified four additional locations along the Oji–Awgu road corridor facing serious erosion threats.
The delegation also included the member representing Oji River State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Osita Eze, and the Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Uche Okolo, alongside other community leaders.
Call for Long-Term Solutions
The joint assessment concluded with a renewed call for urgent federal intervention and sustainable erosion-control measures to safeguard the highway and surrounding communities.
Stakeholders noted that restoring the road is critical to ensuring the safe movement of people, goods, and services across Oji River, Awgu, and neighbouring communities in Enugu State.
