Imo community shuts down activities over bad road

The usual social and other live activities in Umuewere Nguru in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State were temporarily paralysed following a protest over the deplorable condition of their road leading to the Council Headquarter, Umuneke.

The protesters numbering thousands made up youths, and the elderly men and women from the community on Wednesday embarked on the protest to express their anger over the abandoned road which they complained has affected their Economic well-being as the people of Umuewere.

Carrying placards and matching in all corners of the community before heading to the LGA headquarters Umuneke and chanting songs, the angry protesters said that they can no longer access their River for dredging of sand which is their major source of Income and especially not connecting the Local Government Headquarter, Umuneke for other businesses.

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Speaking to newsmen on protest, the leader of the protest, Nze Victor Offor described the situation as most unfortunate, regretting that the bad state of the road has cost Umuewere Community a lot but Socially and Economically.

Also speaking, a female protester, Mrs Rita Egere said that the road used to serve as an economic artery of the Community because Travelers usually stop to buy farm produce and other stuff displayed along the road by the Community
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She lamented that today,the road is unpassable as there are no more vehicles taclkless of Passengers to buy our goods

The village Chairman,Ugochukwu Ekeji expressed disappointment that rather than an advantage for being close to the Local Government Headquarter, Umuewere people are rather suffering untold hardship because of the abandoned road which he said has been awarded several times by various administrations in the State,but always abandoned by Contractors.

He said: ‘the most annoying part of it is that the road was manageable before the Contractor came and removed the sharp sand that was used for the road before he came and sold more than 100 trips of it.

Adding his voice another leader of the protest Barr Odunze Okerengwo blamed the contractors for creating more harm on the road which is affecting the entire community

According to Chidi Njoku many businesses located in the Community are moving out to the areas, therefore denying Umuewere development that comes with such ventures.

He said: “even some of our young men in the Community now prefer building houses outside the Community because they cannot face the challenges posed by the deplorable condition of the road every year and season.

The road in question connects Ulakwo,Nguru,and Umuneke,the Head quarter of Ngor Okpala LGA,from the Aba/Owerri Express Road.

The people of Umuewere appealed to the Imo State Government led by Governor Hope Uzodimma to come to their rescue by Constructing the road which they see as the life wire of the people of Umuewere Community and beyond because of its Socioeconomic importance to Ngor Okpala LGA.

The picture showing Umuneke Nguru Road leading to the LGA Headquarters- Umuneke.