Highly sought-after construction company, Craneburg, is currently addressing the flooding issues at the World Bank Owerri by fixing the Federal Secretariat Road.
The new project adds to the long list of ongoing projects by Craneburg in Imo state, including the Umuchima Overpass Bridge, the Orlu – Awo Idemmili- Ihiala road, and the completed remodelling of the Assumpta/Control roundabout in Owerri.
The flooding issues in the World Bank Housing Estate and surrounding areas in Owerri are some of the most persistent urban challenges in Imo State.
Amateur footage from a citizen journalist today showed the Craneburg team working on the federal secretariat road at the World Bank axis in Owerri. The project is largely a preventive measure as the rainy season approaches in Nigeria in the coming months.
Why the World Bank Axis Floods
The World Bank Axis in Owerri sits in a low-lying basin relative to the rest of Owerri. Water naturally drains from higher elevations like the Imo Housing Estate and accumulates in the World Bank streets.
The result is persistent flooding on rainy days, disrupting traffic and activities in that area.
The Imo state government implemented a “Balloon Technology,” also known as an underground drainage system. Residents and critics have noted that this system has largely failed to handle the volume of water, often becoming clogged with silt and plastic waste.
Additionally, many of the gutters in the estate are not deep enough or are completely blocked by refuse. When it rains heavily, the water has nowhere to go but into homes and onto the roads.
The floods paralyze activities, calling for urgent attention by the state government. Craneburg Holding was founded by the late Herbert Wigwe and his wife, Chizoba Wigwe, who tragically passed away last year in a fatal helicopter crash.
The construction company competes with Julius Berger and Chinese companies for choice projects in the eastern region and seems to enjoy an edge in Imo state.
