November 9, 2024

TNN Newspaper

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Rivers Community Begs Wike Over Bad Roads

4 min read

Edith CHUKU

 

The people of Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State are passing through agonizing moments trying to use the internal and link roads in the communities due to the deplorable state of their roads.
Motorists, commuters as well as pedestrians have lamented over the impassable state of roads in the clan, even as they appeal to the state government to come to their aid.
Some of the roads which are in pitiable condition, needing immediate rehabilitation to salvage the people from their suffering includes the Eneka/Igbo-Etche link road, the Rumuoji / Rumuchiolu inter link road, the Rumuowegwu/ Rumuolukwu /Igbo Etche road, Rumogunuoma/ Oroigwe inter link road, Rumuesara internal road, Rumuowulu to Etche road, Rumuowha/Rumuesara inter link road among others.
The hopeless condition of most of these roads have become death traps, thereby forcing tenants to abandon their apartment, residents displaced of their farms, sources of livelihood, with parents withdrawing their children from schools located within those areas.
Worst of all is the Eneka/Igbo-Etche link road which is completely impassable and almost impossible for pedestrians to traverse.
While some residents lambasted previous administrations, blaming them of refusing to fix the roads, or bring development to the area, others have appealed to the state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to consider the harmful effect of the road on vehicular and human movement and come to their rescue.
About five years ago, in a press release dated Thursday, October 13, 2016, the Eneka/Igbo-Etche link road was captured on item number 14 as one among the numerous developmental achievements of the immediate past governor of the state.
The state publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, stated in that release that “Dualization of Eneka-Igbo Etche link Road (N2.24bn, 70% completed). Since then, nothing has been done to complete or rehabilitate the road, even as it appears contrary to the 70 per cent stated.

 

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The dreadful condition of the roads has been worsened by the heavy rains and grasses have taken over major parts, mostly the Eneka / Igbo-Etche link road.
Speaking under the aegis of Concern Citizens of Eneka Clan, Simeon C. Nsirimovo said “we humbly appeal to the state government ably led by our son, father and brother, the executive governor of Rivers State H. E Nyesom E. Wike to come to our rescue on infrastructural decay and unmotorable roads linking to other notable communities and local government area.
“The Eneka /Igbo-Etche road has been in a deplorable state for over a decade now and each rainy season worsens its dilapidation. This has adversely affected economic activities, depreciated the living condition of people sojourning in the communities along the road and led to the flooding of homes; disparaging some villagers.
“Commuters, motorists and residents have been given false hope and expectation over time on the rehabilitation of this road, which has further demoralized them and making them lose hope for increased standard of living via the dividends of infrastructural development. It would be recalled that the Eneka/Igbo-Etche road was once approved for execution by the state executive council in the year 2008.
“We plead with the executive governor of Rivers State to kindly consider our appeal.”
Simeon also expressed gratitude to the governor for the construction of some roads in the area. According to him, “we express our gratitude to His Excellency for his kind gesture on the construction of Eneka/Rukpokwu road and Eneka-Rumunduru road and the construction of various UBE schools in our dear clan.
“We believe that he will look into our appeal and grant us our request as we have always believe in his administration, even as we assure him of our continuous support and Loyalty and total cooperation during the construction of the road.”
Also, a resident, Mr. Maxwell Iwuji who spoke with TNN in an interview said “it is indeed disheartening that we as a people are subjected to this kind of suffering, yet our leaders act unconcerned. No road to our houses, farms, business places. There is even a hospital along that Eneka/Igbo-Etche link road, but you can’t drive down, you have to park your vehicle somewhere and walk down, now, what if it’s an emergency situation, or a pregnant woman?
“Rivers State government should please help us. For years now, we cannot access Igbo Etche without going through Eleme-Oil mill, and there is no good internal road in Eneka, none, not even one.
“These roads need urgent attention. We are part of Rivers State, governor Wike should please help us.”

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