IMO – Community leaders of Obujuju-Akabor in Oguta Local Government Area, Imo have appealed to Gov. Hope Uzodimma to urgently construct the Obujuju-Akabor/Awo-omamma road to alleviate the suffering of residents of the area.
They noted that poor state of the road had led to monumental losses including human lives and agricultural produce among others.
Chief Anaele Okorowu, United Kingdom-based indigene of the community led some leaders of the community to express the feelings of the people in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Owerri.
Okorowu said the poor state of about 6.5km Obujuju–Akabor/ Umuemembinaofe/ Awo-Omamma road had resulted to delayed medical attention and deaths of pregnant women as well as post-harvest losses to farmers.
“This road serves as one of the most important socio-economic arteries in our area. Unfortunately, government has not considered the road important to communities connected to it.
“Traders, farmers, transporters and residents relied on this road daily to move agricultural produce, goods and services across the neighbouring communities.
“The deteriorating condition of this road has reduced its enormous potential, slowed down commercial activities and imposed unnecessary hardship on the people.
“In recent times, we have recorded deaths of some residents including pregnant women as a result of delayed mobility to better hospitals due to deplorable condition of this road.”
Okorowu who questioned if the people of the area are not tax payers for successive governments to abandon them in such a manner also called on Rep. Eugene Dibiagwu, representing Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal at the House of Representatives to look into the plights of the area.
He commended Dibiagwu for his impactful representation in about three and half years in the National Assembly, saying “we are praying for your return for second term believing that you remember our community this time.”
He regretted that other basic infrastructure such as hospital; good school and market were not present in the area, saying tender children trek kilometers to attend schools, while nursing mothers suffer to access antenatal care.
Also speaking another indigene of the community, Mr Anselem Okechukwu, said the Obujuju-Akabor/Awo-Omamma road serves as a gateway to Ukwuorji in Eziama Obiato and Umunoha both in Mbaitoli LGA as well as Ejemekwuru, Awa and Izombe communities in Oguta LGA.
“This makes the corridor far more than a local access road it is a regional connector capable of stimulating socio-economic activities across multiple communities in Oguta, Mbaitoli and Oru East LGAs of the state.
“With improved infrastructure, this corridor could once again become a thriving commercial route, attracting investment in agriculture, small-scale industries, transportation and rural enterprise.
“Unfortunately, years of neglect had resulted to what hitherto was once a bustling economic corridor into a difficult and often dreaded route.
“Farmers struggle to move cassava, palm produce, vegetables and other farm produce to markets, while transporters incur higher operating costs due to vehicle damage and prolonged travel times.
“Businesses that once depended on this road have either scaled down or relocated, depriving local communities of jobs and economic opportunities,” Okechukwu lamented.
He appealed to Gov. Uzodimma and Rep. Dibiagwu to look into the plights of the community with a view to constructing the very important road as that will reduce the challenges of the people of the area.(NAN)
