By Tony Okafor, Awka
For residents of Awka, moving through parts of the Anambra State capital has increasingly become an exercise in patience, caution and frustration, with several inner roads described as deplorable despite the city’s growing profile as the state’s administrative centre.
Our correspondent, who moved around parts of the city on Monday following complaints from residents, commuters, tricycle operators and bus drivers, observed potholes, erosion, muddy surfaces and flood-related damage on several inner roads.
Residents particularly expressed concern over roads serving densely populated neighbourhoods, arguing that the condition of such roads does not reflect the level of development expected of a state capital.
“Awka is becoming difficult to move around,” said a resident, Anayo Eze.
Emeka Nwogu appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to give greater attention to the city’s inner roads, insisting that urban renewal should not focus only on major roads and government-facing projects.
“Awka is the capital of the state. People should be able to move freely within the city without having to struggle through bad roads,” Nwogu said.
Akunna John said the poor roads had increased transportation costs and vehicle maintenance, and urged the government to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the city’s inner roads before they become completely impassable.
Residents said the problem goes beyond potholes. They identified flooding and the alleged obstruction of natural waterways by buildings and other structures as major factors contributing to the deterioration of roads.
“Repairing roads without addressing drainage and water-flow problems amounts to treating the symptoms while leaving the cause untouched,” said Sunday Okeke.
One of the areas visited was the route from the fruit market behind the old Anambra State Government House towards the Commissioners’ Quarters, where several senior government officials reside, including the Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Speaker of the State House of Assembly and commissioners.
Residents questioned why roads in such a strategically important area should remain in poor condition, particularly when roads around the newly built Anambra State Light House, which houses the Government House and the governor’s official residence, are in good shape.
The Aroma-Amaku corridor also came under criticism. Residents said the roads linking Aroma to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, serve thousands of commuters and patients but remain difficult to navigate.
“A pregnant woman going for antenatal care on this road could go into induced labour because of the poor state of the road,” one resident remarked.
Similar complaints were made about roads linking Kwata Junction to Obunagu and the SMO Okeke axis.
On Arthur Eze Road, which links the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to the popular Awka Main Market via the UNIZIK TempSite Junction, the story is the same. Residents expressed frustration over deep potholes obstructing the free flow of traffic. A commuter, Pius Ojukwu, simply described the road as “Golgotha.”
Ngozi Nwokike said the government needed to investigate the causes of recurring flooding rather than simply carrying out patchy repairs on damaged roads.
“Where natural water channels have been blocked, simply constructing a new road or doing repairs may not solve the problem. The water will return and destroy the road again,” she said.
Residents also raised questions about who approved buildings allegedly constructed on or close to natural waterways, and called for greater transparency in building approvals and stronger enforcement of physical planning and environmental regulations.
A resident, who said the concerns about Awka’s roads should not be reduced to partisan politics, argued that the present situation demanded greater attention from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) administration.
“Peter Obi is not the problem facing governance in Anambra State presently. APGA, as a party, has a lot to do. If not, January 2027 will come and it will be the same situation,” the resident said.
“I am not a sycophant. The government needs to know the truth about what is happening in Awka.”
The resident listed Igwebuike Road, SMO Okeke Road, Works Road, Obunagu Road, Ichide Road, Umuorama Road, Amaku Road, Amaenyi Girls Road, Ifite Road and the Umuike Road from Nkwelle Awka among roads requiring urgent government attention.
He said the problem was not limited to Awka, adding that several roads in neighbouring Amawbia, including Obi Avenue, Ezimezi Ama Hausa Road and Ngene Road, were also in need of rehabilitation.
“Most of the drainage channels in the state capital are blocked, yet flooding continues to disturb the city. The government needs to address the problem,” he said.
Residents urged the Soludo administration to adopt an integrated approach involving road rehabilitation, drainage reconstruction, desilting of waterways, removal of obstructions and strict enforcement of physical planning laws.
They argued that fixing roads without addressing the underlying drainage and flooding problems would amount to repeated expenditure without a lasting solution.
For them, Awka needs more than impressive government buildings. It needs functional neighbourhood roads, effective drainage systems and an urban management strategy that makes movement easier for residents and visitors alike.
