The Former state of Orlu-Mgbee-Akokwa-Uga Federal road destroyed by gully erosion and the new state of the road
Roads have reopened abandoned trade routes, hospitals are regaining lost accreditation, an airport is preparing for international cargo operations and a digital city is nurturing tomorrow’s technology workforce. Tope Omogbolagun examines how Imo State is attempting to reinvent itself through infrastructure, healthcare and innovation.
A few years ago, motorists approaching the Akokwa-Uga corridor in Imo State had little choice but to slow to a crawl, weave through makeshift diversions or abandon the route altogether.
Gully erosion had carved through the highway, cutting communities off from one another and disrupting the movement of people, farm produce and commerce.
Today, the same stretch tells a different story. Fresh asphalt now overlays what was once a nightmare, solar-powered streetlights illuminate sections of the road, and heavy construction equipment is gradually giving way to free-flowing traffic.
