The Anambra government says it is drafting a bill to establish a Local Government Road Maintenance Agency to maintain roads within its communities.

Collins Nwabunwanne, the state’s Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, disclosed this during a media chat in Awka on Monday.

Mr Nwabunwanne said: “We have a challenge of road maintenance at the local government level; hence, we are drafting a law to establish a Local Government Road Maintenance Agency.

“With this, most roads within the local government areas will be fixed without waiting for the state or Federal Governments to fix or maintain the roads for us.”

The commissioner said there is an ongoing overhaul of the local government infrastructure and the training of 5,000 workers to improve their administration and management in the state.

“When this administration came on board, we saw that most local government facilities were dilapidated and deserted with few workers. There were no basic working tools, electricity, or water supply, and the environment was bushy.

“The transition chairmen are, however, mandated to provide necessary working tools and make the local government office clean, safe, and conducive for workers to function optimally.

“The ministry is also supervising the chairmen to ensure they carry out meaningful projects in the communities,” he said.

The commissioner said the ministry had set up a template to allow communities to elect their leaders to address the leadership crisis and sustain peace in the state.

Mr Nwabunwanne stated that this followed the acknowledgement of the roles of local governments and traditional rulers in the government’s survival. 

“This template is aimed at prioritising public interest, and we have been able to resolve conflicts and disputes in over 100 communities.

“I tell you that those communities are thriving now with meaningful development,” Mr Nwabunwanne stated. 

(NAN)