The state of this road remains essentially the same as it was last year when I joined Oblong Media Unlimited in drawing attention to the neglect of this important corridor. Today, Oblong Media has once again raised its voice, now amplified by a blogger.
I am once again adding my voice.
What you are looking at is not some forgotten pathway in an abandoned settlement. This is the Ihiagwa–Eziobodo–FUTO axis, serving the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), one of Nigeria’s foremost federal universities, as well as several communities in Owerri West LGA, including my hometown, Emeabiam, which lies at the tail end of this corridor.
Thousands of students, lecturers, university workers, residents, traders and motorists depend on these roads every day.
Yet look at what they have been subjected to.
Erosion. Failed drainage. Deep potholes. Mud. Gullies. Dangerous stretches. And, in some places, roads that are virtually impassable.
This is a disgrace.
And it is not merely about inconvenience.
There is a serious security dimension to this infrastructural failure. Poor roads can leave vehicles crawling, stranded or unable to manoeuvre quickly. They can also make it more difficult for security personnel and emergency responders to reach people in distress.
This is particularly troubling in an environment where students and residents have already experienced serious security incidents, including kidnapping and robbery.
How can we expect young people to pursue education with confidence when the very roads leading to their institutions expose them to unnecessary hardship and danger?
And then there is the question of development.
FUTO is not an isolated institution. Around it has grown an entire ecosystem of students, academics, businesses, landlords, transport operators, artisans, food vendors and other service providers. Federal Polytechnic Nekede adds another major educational institution to this broader corridor.
This is why I have chosen to call this area the “Axis of Knowledge.”
It is my way of drawing attention to what this corridor could and should be—a strategically planned educational and economic zone anchored by institutions of learning and surrounded by thriving communities.
Imagine a properly paved and drained road network running from Nekede through Ihiagwa and Eziobodo to Emeabiam, with street lighting, landscaping, proper traffic management, safe pedestrian spaces and reliable security infrastructure.
Imagine a serene environment attractive not only to students and businesses, but also to retired academics, professionals and captains of industry who wish to return to their ancestral homes and invest their experience, resources and knowledge in Imo State.
That is the kind of development vision that should guide infrastructure planning.
Sadly, we are still struggling with the basics.
The Naze–Nekede–Ihiagwa–Obinze road, for instance, has been undergoing what can only be described as intermittent and unsatisfactory rehabilitation for years. At present, portions of it have once again been abandoned.
How did we normalise this?
We should not allow the usual argument over whether a particular road belongs to the federal, state or local government to become an excuse for inaction. Citizens do not travel according to jurisdictional boundaries. They simply need a safe road.
The relevant authorities should sit together, determine responsibility, and act.
The Federal Government and its relevant agencies, the Imo State Government, Owerri West Local Government, FUTO authorities and other stakeholders should urgently develop a coordinated response to the infrastructure and security challenges along this corridor.
The immediate priorities are obvious:
Fix the roads.
Fix the drainage.
Provide adequate lighting.
Improve security.
Ensure emergency access.
And develop a long-term plan for the Axis of Knowledge.
This is not a political statement.
It is a citizen’s plea for responsive governance and responsible development.
As an indigene of Emeabiam, I cannot look at this road and remain silent. As someone who believes deeply in education, particularly the education and empowerment of young people, I find it particularly painful that thousands of students must navigate this environment simply to access knowledge.
FUTO students should not have to beg for a decent road.
Neither should the people of Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Nekede, Emeabiam and the surrounding communities.
The Axis of Knowledge should not remain an idea.
Let us make it a reality.
#OblongMediaGlobal #FUTO #Eziobodo #Emeabiam #OwerriWest #ImoState #FixFUTORoad #AxisOfKnowledge #Infrastructure #StudentSafety #GoodGovernance #RoadInfrastructure
