Raymond Ozoji
Inhabitants of Anambra-East and West state and federal constituencies have decried deplorable conditions of the Nneyi-Umueri-Anam road.
The people majorly blamed the problem on poor representation from politicians representing them at both state and national assemblies.
Investigation revealed by Raymond Ozoji on Tuesday 26th August this year, revealed that the strategic road which connects the home of the current House of Representatives member, has been abandoned for over 5 years resulting to its current deteriorating state.
Residents lamented that the Nneyi-Umueri-Anam road is now a nightmare as small vehicles find it practically impossible to navigate. Some tippers that ply it get stuck in those bad portions.
Some farmers and tipper drivers shared their sufferings calling for urgent interventions to alleviate their plights as the road become impassable with any drop of rain.
Chukwuma Udekwe, a native of Nneyi-Umueri whose farmland is located along the road, described it as their worst nightmare.
“There seems to be no hope in sight because the road has been like this for more than 5 years,” he lamented.
Rains worsens its condition
“Whenever it rains, we find it extremely difficult to access our farms due to excessive flooding.
“I call on government and our representatives at the federal and state legislatures to come to our rescue and salvage the situation.”
Mrs. Benedict Egwuonwu and Mrs. Francisca Egbo both of Nneyi-Umueri village also own farms along Nneyi-Umueri-Anam road.
They recounted their ordeals from the road which has made evacuation of farm produce almost impossible.
“Since no vehicle plies the road, we are always force to carry out harvested crops on our heads or wheelbarrow to markets,” Egwuonwu said.
“it is terribly bad from Nkwo-Nneyi to the point where it connected Anam in Anambra-West,” Egbo regrettably noted.
The both pleaded with their representatives to bring government attention to the worsening condition of the road to ameliorate their burdens and plights.
This journalist during a visit to the place witnessed a tipper that got trapped in a big pothole on the road.
Wear and tear on tippers
The driver, Emmanuel Nwogbe, corroborated what others said about the sorry state of the road.
“This road has destroyed many of our tippers. We keep repairing every now and then.
“We don’t have any other alternative than to use it like that.
“The current Senator representing Anambra-North senatorial district used to ply the road even in its terrible condition but he no longer uses it.
Another tipper driver, Mr. Godwin Eneanya who hails from Anambra-West but operated his business along Nneyi-Umueri-Anam road.
He was seen by this journalist fixing his tipper near a pothole on the road. “My truck got spoilt while trying to navigate through a pothole on the road,” he said.
“I have had many ugly episodes of this suffering on this road.
He said that the National and State Assembly members from Anambra-East and West have abandoned the road and left their constituents who elected them into office to suffer untold hardships.
“Even if the federal and state governments neglected the road, our representatives should have at least carried out palliative works on it.
A cyclist, Ikenna Ekwealor said the road has become out of bounds for vehicles.
“Even bike find it very difficult to navigate through it. This road connected many communities in the Omambala region.
Representatives’ responses
The member representing Anambra-West constituency in the 8th assembly Mr Patrick Udoba didn’t respond to calls.
However, his colleague representing Anambra-East constituency Mr. Obi Nweke, said that the state government is aware of the devastating condition of Nneyi-Umueri-Anam road and it will attend to it.
Nweke also disclosed that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is constructing the road from Awkuzu to Otuocha; constructing the road from Aguleri-Uno to Aguleri-Otu and constructing the road from Awkuzu through Igbariam to Ayamelum.
The lawmaker regretted that their son who handed over to Governor Soludo didn’t attend to the road.
Nweke maintained that the Local Government Chairmen of Anambra-East and West can apply palliatives on the road while waiting for the governor’s intervention.
When contacted, the House of Representatives member representing Anambra-East and West federal constituency Mr Peter Aniekwe didn’t pick repeated calls to his phone.
Efforts to reach the Senator representing Anambra-North senatorial zone Mr. Tony Nwoye, proved abortive because his phone was switched off as at the time of writing this report.
