The Nation Newspaper

Tag: communities

  • Akwa Ibom communities send SOS over abandoned bridges, roads

    Akwa Ibom communities send SOS over abandoned bridges, roads

    Communities in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have cried out over the alleged abandonment of the Etebi Enwang road and bridge projects.  They are, therefore, appealing to the state government to consider the pains they go through, especially during the raining season, and order the contractors back to the site.

    The road and bridge projects located in Mbo Local
Government Area of the state were part of the six flagship projects
flagged off by Governor Godswill Akpabio soon after being sworn into office in
2007. The media hype accorded the projects attracted a lot of attention. 
It was meant to provide access to and link with other parts of the
state from this oil-rich area of the state. Mbo is
one of the five oil- rich local government areas in the Oro Nation
that contributes over 70 percent of the state’s finances.

    Some of the communities affected, with an estimated population of over 300,000, include Etebi, Unyenge, Orukim, Udighin, Uda, Ofi Uda, Uko Nteghe, Enwang, Ibaka, Akprankprang Uda.

    A visit to the site by The Nation recently when The Correspondents’
Chapel, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Chapter,  toured
state government projects executed since 2007 when the present
administration of Governor Akpabio  came on board, however,
revealed a stark opposite of what members of the public have been made
to believe about the project widely publicised as one  of the longest bridges
in Africa.

    The other road project believed to have been abandoned in Eket Senatorial District is the Eket-Ibeno dualisation awarded to a Chinese construction firm, CCECC.

    Narrating the plight of the people of the riverine area since the
inauguration of the project, which has over the years rendered the road
unmotorable, the village head of Afi Udah, the community hosting the
project, His Royal Highness, Obong Clement Ekuwem, said the only gain
the people of the area have enjoyed from the project is  blitz accorded it.

    Ekuwem said when he received government officials in 2008, who came to
inform him that the project had been awarded, he felt that the many years
of prayers and petitions to several administrations had been
rewarded.

    “Before then, I had been writing to various governments about the
plight of the people; so that day they came was the third happiest day
of my life because I felt our sorrows would be properly addressed. So we pleaded with the contractors to capture the three bridges on
that stretch.

    “It is unfortunate that this is one of the six flagship
projects of Governor Akpabio’s administration and quite unfortunate
that it is the only one not completed eight years after. The flyovers
in Uyo, the Aka Nnung Udoe road and others have all been completed
except Etebi Enwang road and the bridge.

    “Our community feels bad that Akpabio has abandoned the much talked
about Etebi Enwang road. People say they saw the road on the internet as
completed, whereas there are only 40 pairs of pillars that have
been erected. I, as a layman, know that the bridge is not 50 percent
completed yet almost eight years after the contract was awarded.”

    He, however, commended Akpabio for erecting up to  40 pillars, though
an overdose of publicity has been used to attract so much attention to the
project. He regretted to note that this was not the first time
government has brought such disappointment to the area and her people
on account of the deplorable state of that road.

    “Akpabio has even done well to have erected up to 40 pillars; during
the Eastern Region’s government, only 12 pillars were erected before the
then government was interrupted by war,” he said.

    He called on those in authority to always strive to be just, as
injustice breeds suffering. He further reminded those in positions of
authority that judgment and justice are the foundation of any throne.

    Another traditional ruler, the family head of Uko Nteghe, Chief
Effiong Asuquo Efai, said the communities are suffering and are only
able to move about in the dry season as the road is almost impassable even
on foot during the rainy season; but then, the people have to feed. The
pain of the people is better imagined than experienced, he stated.

    “They keep engaging contractors who would end up abandoning the
project.  Between
2007 and now, three different contractors have been engaged and they
all end up abandoning it without any tangible impact. The first was
Sineong Nigeria Ltd, where I worked as a security officer. When they
abandoned the work, government engaged another one called Bulletin and
now Amitec Construction and Development Company is the third and has
equally abandoned site.

    “If you had come during the rainy season, you wouldn’t get to this point;
it’s so bad and risky and that is why we live a very sad life here.
We are pleading with the government to come and complete this job because we are
suffering”, he said.

    It would be recalled that the state Ministry of Works has on many
occasions threatened to revoke jobs from different contractors
handling the job during their inspection tours in 2008 and 2012, but
that seems to have been mere barks without any strict action to serve
as deterrence to others.

    On the Eket-Ibeno road project,
indigenes of Eket expressed their concern that it (the project) has been
abandoned as the company might have withdrawn its equipment from both roads
and sacked members of the community employed at the flag-off of the
projects.

    The chairman of Afaha Atai village council, Chief Samuel Etti,
regretted that the two roads linking the area with other parts of the
state were abandoned shortly after flag-off.

    “We were excited about the promise to dualise the roads not knowing it
would rather cut us off from other parts of the state. Visit the sites
and you will see that the company, CCECC, has returned all its
equipment to its yards and employees have been laid off.

    “It is quite disappointing that none of the present
administration’s promises to us has been fulfilled;  they came with
the promise of industrialisation and we were very excited that the Qua
Steel industry would be revamped. Till today, we have not seen any sign
of fulfilling such promise.  Now, the one lane roads we were managing
have been rendered impassable”, he lamented.

    However, when contacted, the Human Resource Manager, CCECC, Mr. Solomon Matthew,
claimed the 23 .3km Eket-Etinan road and 19.5km Eket -Ibeno road could
not record significant progress over a year after flag- off due to the
company’s policy of using precast materials.

    He admitted that the company has recorded a shortfall of staff
due to resignation but denied that any staff had been laid off due to under -funding.

    “The company has put everything in place for a smooth take – off of
both projects, if you go to Eket-Etinan yard, you will see over 400
equipment there; it does not mean we are not working. We use precast
materials; CCECC does not have problem with funding because it is
owned by the government of China”.

    The  Akwa Ibom State Information Commissioner, Mr. Aniekan Umana, in his response to The Nation’s inquiry, said the 32-kilometre road project with
two bridges is not abandoned. He assured the people that the project
is still on-going.  He said work on the first bridge, which is about
1.2 kilometers, has gone very far, while work on the second  one is
advancing.

    Umana said the bridge is the longest one outside the Third Mainland
Bridge in Lagos and it is an enormous project to be handled by a state
government because it requires huge resources.
He said successive administrations since 1960 had been trying but they all
failed to deliver because it is a gigantic project, but the
administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio re-awarded the contract
because he means well for the people.

    He said no single government can
complete all projects in a society. He assured the Mbo people in
particular and Akwa Ibom people in general that no work in the state
is abandoned but they are  on-going.

  • More districts, communities to get water

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board has expressed its readiness to enhance service provision through increased and uninterrupted water supply to districts and communities of the FCT yet to access water supply.

    Rising from the its meeting of the year which was also the 10th since the inauguration of the members of the Board, Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Alhassan Sule Gwagwa, expatiated that aside from conforming to President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, the service expansion will also translate to improved revenue generation.

    Towards achieving this objective therefore, Gwagwa confirmed that the Board of Directors has concluded arrangements to make a presentation to the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed on the need for a speedy completion of tanks one and six and the associated mains in order to ensure that the adequate volume of water currently being produced is also equitably distributed.

    Contributing, Board member in charge of personnel matters, Alhaji Nasir Galadima, told reporters that issues of staff welfare, including incentives and allowances, provision of protective gears and uniforms and the need for good office accommodation, especially in area offices, were also resolved.

    The current security situation in the country, according to Alhaji Galadima, also informed the decision of the Board of Directors to ensure that the perimeter of Lower Usuma Dam is intact and secure at all times, while all other complementary measures that will protect the entire facility against any form of hostility are also put in place.

  • Why rural communities must be protected

    Why rural communities must be protected

    Participants at a conference organised by Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have urged the government to check environmental degradation in rural areas. OLADELE OGE reports.

    CITIES should not be protected from environmental degradation at the expense of rural areas, participants  at a three-day conference organised by Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) have said.

    The event with the theme: Industry, agriculture and environmental sustainability: The role of environmental toxicology and chemistry research in Africa took place at the institution’s Princess Alexandra Hall.

    The guest speaker, Prof Ikechukwu Onwurah, urged the Federal Government to upgrade rural environmental protection, because degradation poses risk to communities. He said government must check the role being played by corporate bodies in environmental degradation, urging it to promulgate laws to control the negative effects.

    Prof Onwurah, who delivered a paper titled: Sustainable Environmental compliance monitoring (ECM) framework: The role of government, highlighted the importance of the conference to the nation’s wellbeing, saying a friendly environment would reduce risk of natural disaster and disease outbreak.

    He urged government at different levels not to relent in finding lasting solutions to communities’ environmental and ecological problems. He said they must fund academic researches aimed solving environmental challenges.

    While declaring the conference open, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, represented by his deputy on Academics, Prof Polycarp Chigbu, urged participants to ensure that their contributions were informed by research to make the outcome and recommendations a quality document useful to the government.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof.L.I.N Ezemonye, who spoke on Plurality of ecotoxicological interventions in environmental management system, said the release of several industrial chemicals to the environment had resulted into acute lethal toxicity in the water body, noting that species of fishes, shrimps and earthworms had been endangered.

    Ezemonye, represented by Dr Alex Enuneku, said species of organisms in the Niger Delta had mortality average of seven days, saying this necessitated the constant monitoring of the water in the region.

    Outlining the challenges facing ecological research, Prof Onwurah said insufficient funding is the major problem of quality research into the issue. He urged the Federal Government to establish direct linkage between researchers and those in the affected communities, to enable experts tackle the problems.

    Other challenges, he pointed out, included inadequate capacity building for technical staff undertaking ecoloxicological analysis and the pressure to reduce use of vegetables in ecotoxicological test in biochemistry research.

    Mrs Folake Idowu-Adebayo  spoke on Proximate composition and effect of frying on the oxalic content of cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium) chips. The don, who is of the Federal University in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, said she observed that the method of processing oxalic contents of a fried food had specific effects on the body system.

    She said it was important to determine the effect of processing on the oxalic contents in every stage of production by street vendors, stressing that there was need to understand the effectiveness of frying method before accepting fried food.

    Describing quality food and good health as fundamental to society development, Idowu-Adebayo said government must revitalise public health institutions to meet international standard in reducing health problems emanating from fried food.

    The organising secretary of the conference, Dr Victor Ogugua, said the aim of the conference was to remind the government about the importance of environmental protection to the wellbeing of the society. He said impacts of environmental degradation on rural dwellers, particularly in the Niger-Delta region could not be quantified, pointing out that the perennial flood in the area was one of the threats being posed by mismanaged environment.

     

     

  • How broken bridge wrecked Imo communities

    How broken bridge wrecked Imo communities

    Looking at the collapsed bridge, it is difficult to imagine that it was once a major reason two communities in Imo State   thrived.

    Umualum and Umuoma towns in Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, with a population of over 100,000, once kept the state in good supply of food.

    Few people cultivated yam and cassava better than they did, and they also had a good measure of fish to throw in. They packed their produce and catch, went over the bridge and, in about ten minutes, were in the capital Owerri to sell. Even when the farmers chose not to move their harvests out, their clients crossed the bridge and came to Umualum and Umuoma to buy. The two communities prospered and residents were happy.

    That was 20 years ago. Since then, the Otamiri Bridge has broken and the economy of the communities has also collapsed.

    Now, the bridge, brownish with dust, has almost fallen into the Otamiri River. At great risk to themselves, some residents place planks on a side of the structure and try to cross to the other side of the river, wisely avoiding the parts that have no supporting steel of any kind or are completely overgrown with weed. Even then, accidents do happen.

    The bridge now provides little boys something to play with. They strip off their clothes, climb to the top of the railing and plunge into the Otamiri River. They splash around for a while and go home.

    The economy of Umualum and Umunoma communities has nosedived. The traders have all vanished and the communities are disconnected and abandoned, thanks to the erosion that washed away the Otamiri Bridge, the only link to the riverside communities.

    Bemoaning the development, the traditional ruler of Umuoma, Eze Morrison Eke, said his community has been cut off from other ones, especially the state capital which was formerly a journey of less than 10 minutes.

    He stated that since the collapse of the bridge, about 20 years ago, the villagers have suffered untold hardship and accidents trying to cross the precarious bridge.

    “There is no other link road to the communities aside from the Otamiri Bridge and since it collapsed we have lost the once buoyant economy and now we are barely surviving because we have no other place to go”.

    The troubled monarch, appealed to the State and Federal Governments to come to their aid and rehabilitate the dilapidated bridge, which he said a lot of economic and geographical hardship on the people.

    According to some of the villagers, who spoke with The Nation by the bank of the Otamiri River, “it used to be a beehive of activities in this area when the bridge was functional many years ago because transportation on car, buses, tricycle and motor cycles were all easy. Fishermen sold their fish along the bridge and people come from far and near to patronise them and also to buy farm produce”.

    They lamented further that, “we were formerly the highest producers of yam and cassava but since there is no longer means to transport the produce to the markets, the farmers have been discouraged. We are appealing to the Federal Government to come to our aid because we have no other place to go because this is our ancestral home”.

    Apart from the farmers and traders, students also share in the plight. The Federal Polytechnic Nekede is situated in the area and the fact that cheap and affordable houses abound in Umuoma and Umualum communities, the population of students is high in the area.

    Chijioke Obinna,  a student of the Polytechnic who lives in one of the communities, lamented that, “since the wood and steel used in building the bridge are now weak and dilapidated, it takes courage and caution for one to trek across the bridge without falling  into the river”.

    He added further that, “we are more than 60 students that live in the two communities and we have to cross the bridge everyday to go to school. We are also joining the indigenes to appeal to the authorities to fix the bridge and reconnect the communities with the other parts of the state.

    They shouldn’t wait until major disaster happens”.

    An indigene, Mr. Stephen Njoku, noted that indigenes of the affected communities who live outside no longer visit home due to the collapsed bridge, adding that “even though there is perceived Federal Government’s presence around the bridge, little has been done to help the plight of the people”.

    The lawmaker representing Owerri West in the state House of Assembly, Hon Innocent Eke, who enumerated efforts made by the State Assembly to alleviate the plight of the people, stated that, “since it is an ecological fund project that requires counterpart funding, the state government has paid its counterpart fund and in no time the Federal Government will commence work on the ‘Otamiri’ bridge”.

    He appealed to the people to be patient with the Government, adding that palliative measures will continue until the collapsed bridge is fixed.

    As the waiting game continues, the residents of the two communities will continue to live under the fear of lurking disaster, which may happen at any time, going by the deteriorating shape of the bridge which is begging for urgent attention.

     

  • Communities ‘shielded’ rocky hills

    Communities ‘shielded’ rocky hills

    WHAT lies beneath the rocks? That is the question the people of Otan Ayegbaju, the headquarters of Boluwaduro Local Government, Osun State, are seeking answers to. The rocks are historically linked to the history of the town. As a matter of fact, the siting of the town in a valley, surrounded by rocks, giving it an impenetrable defence, was informed by the people’s need for security.

    Hence, at inception, the town was christened Otan Koto (Otan in the valley) by the founders. The ancient town is surrounded by rocky mountains, giving it a beautiful bird eye views from all the four sides. But the aesthetic is not the only good biotic relationship between Otan Ayegbaju and the mountains.

    According to the people, the mountains serve more than adding to the beauty of the town, they also serve other purposes, including the provision of security, spiritual and economic benefits. From whichever angle you look at Otan Ayegbaju, you are faced with misty rocky hills. To a first time visitor to Nigeria, a look around Otan Ayegbaju is both frightening and enthralling. But frightening as it might look, young and old indigenes of the town are happy, believing that the rocks provide them with fool-proof security from any attack.

    While Otan Ayegbaju is just one of the numerous towns in Nigeria sitting at the foot of rocky mountains, the history, myths, realties and beliefs set it apart from the rest. Interestingly, the rocks are known by different names, with each backed up with rich history. For example, the Oke Maria (Maria Mountain), a high rocky mountain serves the spiritual needs of Catholics from across the globe who gather on the mountain once every year to offer supplications to God.

    Aside Oke Maria, other mountains like Lukotun, Olua and others serve the security needs of the people. According to history, the mountains are named after the founding fathers of the town, who the people say each disappeared into the rock named after them. And while the Christians population seek spiritual fulfillment on Oke Maria, the traditionalists offer supplications to their forefathers, who they believe provide security for indigenes of the town till date.

    Speaking with The Nation, the monarch of the town, Oba Lukman Adesola Ojo Fadipe Arenibiowo Olatekan 111, Owa Otan Ayegbaju, said he is very proud of the cultural heritage of his people. According to him, the location of Otan Ayegbaju makes it the envy of its neighbours.

    He said: “The rocky hills in Otan Ayegbaju is a blessing to the town. Many of the towns around here wonder why Otan Ayegbaju is surrounded by hills. The hills have something to do with the history of this town. Initially, Otan Ayegbaju was referred  to as  Otan Koto, this is because the town is surrounded by hills, meaning that the town is at the lower part of the hills making it look like a settlement in a ditch.

    “The advantage of the hills are numerous. We all know that during the rainy season, we have storms and erosion which destroy buildings. While winds cause havoc in other towns, the people of this town have never had any such experience. These hills protect the houses built in Otan Ayegbaju because they act as buffer for the buildings. Instead of the wind blowing away our houses, the hills absorb the power of the wind, and give us cool breeze.

    “People also talk about erosion washing away houses; it is difficult for that to happen here because the hills do not allow erosion. This is a town where no river enters the town. Rather, it is a source of many rivers which flow into many rivers in other towns. All the water that flow to other towns have their sources from these hills.”

    With his face a beautiful sign post of assurance, Oba Arenibiowo spoke about the spiritual and security services provided his people by the rocks. “The hills are also useful when it comes to praying to God. It is common for people in Christian religion that if they want to speak with God privately, they prefer to go to the mountain to pray.

    “If someone is on the mountain, you will be seeing this town; it is believed that if you are on top of a hill or mountain, you will be closer to God than being in your room. Here in Otan Ayegbaju, if we go on top of these hills and pray to God, He listens to our prayers. This is why we have Oka Maria in Otan Ayegbaju. Oke Maria is a place where people come from different parts of the world to pray annually, it was started by a group of Catholic sisters.

    “Otan Ayegbaju has been in existence for about 600 years. This town was established by tradition. There were powerful people at the inception of this town and as you are aware, the powerful people do not die, they transit. Before they die, they leave instructions,” the monarch said.

    Speaking on the history behind each hill, the monarch said: “Lukotun is another hill that we worship. It has a chain that we pull anytime we need him. The chain was tied across his wait and when he entered the ground, part of the chains was made visible, if we pull the chain, whatever we say, he will answer us. We call on him on the mountain, and he answers us till date. All the water we drink in this town comes from under these hills.

    “Agriculturally, these hills are important as we get good yields from whatever we plant on these hills. It is our belief that wherever you see hills, there is always loamy soil and when it rains, it retains water because it has rocks under it.

    “During the dry season, when there is so much heat, we don’t feel it here, as the hills absorb the heat. The hills moderate the weather for us here. We don’t have extreme weather here, whatever the season.”

    The people of the town believe that the rocky hills have been left untapped because of the fear that the town would be washed away by water, but the traditional ruler of the town faulted this, saying it was a fable. “We believe that water cannot overrun Otan if they break the rocky hills. We believe that there is no danger even if it exits, those doing the findings will know where to break that would not pose any danger. Mind you, we will not allow them for any reason to touch where our ancestors are and if they refused to listen, we know what to do.”

    An elder in the town, Bakare Adebiyi, maintained that there had been an early attempt to break the rocky hills by a white man who believed that there was gold inside the hills but had to stop when he was warned that the gods would be angry and wash away the town away.

    Reminded that in an attempt to look for natural resources, the gods could be affected, the monarch, smiling, said that could not be true because the people that would be working on the hills would be guided and if they don’t listen, there will be a way round it.

    Agreeing with Oba Lukman, Adebiyi said it is impossible, adding: “There are places you can break, it will even going to be impossible for you to break the hill, what the person will meet is likely to be more than he can stand. All the hills were once human beings.”

    He pleaded with the government to send geologists to the town to carry out research to unearth the goldmine that may be located under the rocks. “We are calling on government to do something because we believe there are several mineral resources under the rocks. If government establishes companies here, the investment will be worthwhile. As it is right now, the rocks here can last more than 600 years if government decides to invest in it. To dig a borehole, you may need to go as deep as 250 feet to get water.”

    But while the people want the government to develop the economic potentials of the town, they all insist that the historical hills, where they believe their forefathers entered into the ground, are no-go areas for anybody.

    “Those hills, like Lukotun and Olua are no-go areas for anybody. Our fathers reside in those rocks. They are warriors and they come out to fight our battles for us whenever we need them. They offer us protection,” he said with assurance.

    For him, no army can overrun the town. This, he claimed, has been proved several times in the past when enemy armies tried to invade the town. “You may not want to believe this, but I tell you that no army can successfully invade us. History has it that during the intertribal wars, a troop from a particular section of the country tried to invade our town. But they all perished at the border. Our forefathers were the unseeing hands behind the feat. They fought for us. And as I speak, they still fight for us.

    “Each of the hills that surround the town has its own unique function. According to the history of the town, Oke Olua (Olua Hill), was where Olua, one of the founders of the towns transited and disappeared into the ground. It is believed that he still resides there till today. It was the Olua Hill that prevented an enemy army to capture the town when they attacked us. According to the history, Olua Hill swallowed them and some of their war relics can still be found at the bottom of the hill. The enemy soldiers were deceived by the vastness of the hill as they approached Otan.

    “Apart from Olua, there is another hill, Agbirigidi. Oral tradition says it wasn’t so high initially, but it was the war that made it to increase in height. The history said another set of people invaded the town, but the hill prevented them from gaining access to the town. They all perished there too.

    “The Lukotun Hill is another hill that plays important role in this town. The Lukotun was said to be a powerful warrior when he was alive, and while transiting, Lukotun disappeared into the ground and became a mountain. Up till today, there is a special way to call on him anytime there is trouble in the town.”

    An indigene, Anthony Fasami, speaking on the unique location of the town, said the foot of the mountain may have been a large deep river in earliest time. According to Fasami, the founders of the town were advised by Ifa oracle to settle at the foot of the mountains.

    “According to oral history, when our forefathers were coming to Otan Ayegbaju, they first stopped here and consulted the oracle (Ifa) whether it was good for them to settle here. The oracle said it was good to stay. It was under a big tree in a place called Ile Elemu they stayed .The tree where they stayed at Ile Elemu is still there till today.

    “Oral history has it that part of the reasons they settled here was the security of the town. The hills that surround the town served as a form of security for them. And because the town was surrounded with hills, they named the town Otan Koto. But it got to a point they began to see the name as derogatory, and they decided to change the name to Otan Ayegbaju. The town is located inside a valley. One particular unique thing about the hills is that whenever you are on top of any of them, it would seem that all the hills are of the same height.

    “There was a time when it seemed that the hills would fall on the people. It was when a tremor happened. But believe me, the people of the town were not moved. They all believed that the hills cannot harm them. One of the hills that shifted during the tremor has not moved back from its original stage since.

    “We are surrounded by hills. The hills are big and extend beyond Otan Ayegbaju. The Ita Sango is an extension of Otayi, it is beside Otayi Hill. There is Oke Adan and others. It is very difficult for enemies to penetrate the town, and up till now, the Olua Mountain is still being worshipped. The shrine of Olua is at the bottom of the mountain. The hills are being worshipped.”

    Aside from the hills, the people also take pride in the Otin River (Odo Otin), which they claim has its source in their town. The advent of the two popular religions, Islam and Christianity, has not in any way reduced the beliefs of the people. As one people bind together by their rich history, indigenes of Otan Ayegbaju, irrespective of religion, all come out in honour of their heroes whenever it is time to make sacrifices to them.

    “People don’t see the worshipping of Olua as idol practice. As far as they are concerned, they are observing tradition and are honouring their forefathers. They use cow to worship Olua.

    A Catholic reverend father once attempted to find out what was inside the hills. Unconfirmed story said the man met with Olua and made several visits to him after that.

    “Nobody has been able to confirm whether there are natural resources under those hills or not. But we heard that there is huge reserve of water inside the rock.”

    Adebiyi remains unfazed about other people’s perceptions of him and his people. For him, the sacrifices offered to the hills are in honour of the heroic deeds of their forefathers.

    “It was our forefather, Olua, that entered the hill. We worship the god annually. Olua brings us good fortune. It protected us during the war and still offers his protections till date. Lukotun is another one that helped us and protected us during the war.

    “If enemies come into this town with the intention of doing evil or kidnapping, I tell you, before six in the evening, the hills would reveal such person. The hills do not scare us.  The gods in the hills still come out at night. Olua has a dog with which he strolls round the town.Our religion has not stopped us from worshipping Olua.”

    68-year-old Joseph Oke Olukotun is said to be an offspring of the famous Olukotun. With age, Joseph has continued to strengthen his belief in the worship of his forebears. “I still participate in the worship of Olukotun because that is the god of my fathers. When there was war in the olden days, Olukotun protected us. He disappeared into the ground. But anytime there is problem and we call on Olukotun, he will come out to help us. We still have a baton that Olukotun used in his battles. Whenever we are threatened, we call him and he comes out and confronts out enemies. Olukotun had so much power, but when he disappeared into the ground, he left a fraction of the chain on his waist for us to pull whenever he is needed.”

    With a Christian name, Joseph said the religious harmony among the people of the town is a good testimony to how well the indigenes have embraced one another irrespective of religious differences. “You can see that where we are talking is a mosque. This shows that there is religious harmony here. We don’t quarrel over religion here. For instance, the Imam of this mosque is my brother. He is a Muslim, while I am a Christian. Anytime we want to worship Olukotun, we all join hands to ensure a befitting honour for our forefather.”

    Like Otan Ayegbaju, a first time visitor to the popular Idanre Hill in Idanre, Ondo State, would marvel at the work of nature. This may indeed have influenced Nobel Laureate winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, to dedicate a poem, Idanre, to nature’s work of beauty.

    Idanre Hill is one of the ancient monuments in the world and has been listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The aesthetics, assemblage and structural design of the hills, ranging from various shapes and sizes, is truly marvellous to behold.

    Located in a serene end of the town, Oke Idanre has continued to attract tourists from near and far who throng the hill for both spiritual and tourism purposes. Expectedly, traditional and Christian worshipers have differently picked choice spots on top of the hill for spiritual exercises. To many, Idanre town is better known for its beautiful and enchanting hill. But the truth is that the town also ranks as one of the largest producers of cocoa seeds in the country.

    Atop the hill, you get a beautiful view of the town that is sure to leave you with sweet memories of Idanre and a promise to come back sooner than later. And successive administrations in the state have made efforts to tap into the tourism benefits of the hill to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Among other efforts to attract tourists to Idanre Hill is the construction of steps from the base to the summit. The 640 steps to the top are punctuated with five resting points for tourists to relax while climbing the hill.

    Among the various physical features on the hill is a stream, always cold anytime of the day. And expectedly, spiritualists are always willing to speak to you about the therapeutic benefits of the water, which locals say has prompted huge demand for the water across the world. The hill also consists of high plain with spectacular valleys with height of about 3,000 feet above sea level.

    Interestingly, the modern day Idanre town has its root firmly rooted on top of the hill. According to an indigene, Yemi Olowolabi, the boss of Red Carpet Tv, their forebears first settled on top of the hill before circumstances compelled them to move down hill. “Our forefathers first settled on top of the hill. And that is the reason why most of the ancestral artefacts are located on top of Idanre Hill,” Olowolabi said with a pinch of pride.

    The calmness, the rigours of climbing and a refreshing swim in the Arun River on top of Idanre Hill combine to make it a wonderful place to visit. The myth surrounding the Agboogun Footprints, widely believed to accommodate every foot no matter the size, also continues to enthrall visitors. Idanre Hill also consists of high plain land with spectacular valleys. Its physical attributes include the ancestral Owa’s palace, shrines and the old court, among others. It also has diverse and variegated eco-systems of flora and fauna, creating an enduring cultural landscape.

    A septuagenarian, Chief Amos Odedele, said: “Since emigration down the hill in 1923, the topography and vegetation have remained unchanged.” He added that there is the Ogun festival, which is partly celebrated on top of the hills in October and Ije festival, which is spread over seven days.

    The hill also boasts of rare animals like the Hyrax, a tailless animal that lives in rocks, and a special kind of monkeys. Unfortunately, these animals are going extinct as a result of hunting by the local hunters.

    And for its beauty and cultural setting, filmmakers now find the hill ideal for their films, especially films with epic story lines.

    However, there are cultural inhibitions for tourists seeking to get to the summit of Idanre hill. As a matter of rule, there are certain places where tourists, especially those who are not indigenes of Idanre town, are compelled to remain silent.

    Speaking to The Nation, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said that the state government invested huge amount of money on tourism to boost the tourism potential of the state.

  • Communities hail Seplat’s safe motherhood initiative

    SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company PLC has been commended for their commitment towards the lives of women, children and the vulnerable in its host communities through the company’s support for the Safe Motherhood Programme, a global initiative to address the rising pandemic of infant and maternal mortality across the continent, especially in sub-Sahara Africa.

    Speaking on the company’s contribution towards this initiative, the General Manager External Affairs and Communications, Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Nwachukwu said the host communities in Delta and Edo states the social service delivery of the company through the Safe Motherhood Programme being supported by Seplat.

    Nwachukwu in statement made available to The Nation said, “Safety is our first core value which is why we are committed to promoting safe delivery for expectant mothers and safety of children in order to help curb their mortality in our host communities. This year 2014 we are providing vaccinations and de-worming children. The good news is pneumonia is preventable and treatable which is why we are supporting our host communities to fight this disease by providing vaccination to children under five years old in our communities. We are happy to also add that we are carrying out de-worming exercises to help eradicate worm infestation in the children.”

    The spokesperson of the company further stressed that the Safe Motherhood Programme is one of the company’s health-based corporate social investment initiatives which was launched in 2011 and runs in the company’s contiguous host and impacted communities in Delta and Edo states in Nigeria.

    Every year the programme impacts the lives of pregnant women in over 60 communities where women receive antenatal care and medical counseling as well as over 3, 500 pregnancy kit bags and insecticide treated nets among others.

    The 2014 programme, which focused on Pneumonia and De-worming of children under five years old, saw a lot of beneficiaries being taken on board.

    Mrs. Dele Ovwigho, one of the many beneficiaries treated at the Central Hospital Sapele, said the programme was well thought out, noting that her daughter, Miss Favor Ovwigho, who was suffering from a debilitating ailment, received the best of care, courtesy of the initiative.

    Among the dignitaries present at the event include: Anthony Owunmi, representing Seplat Base Manager, Chukwuka Oboroma Opara, Medical Representative, Pfizer Worldwide Bio Pharmaceutical Business near, Nigeria/East African region.

    Others include: Dr. (Mrs.) Werribi Omoaghoja, Chief Medical Director, Central Hospital, Chief W.O. Oyo, Chief William Avwigborighe, Chief Omamurumu Omomor to mention just a few.

  • Free eye treatment for Ogun communities

    The MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) arm of the telecom service provider, has begun the execution of the second phase of its Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme (MTNF EyeRIS), in Ogun State, even as Governor Ibikunle Amosun praised it for the initiative.

    No fewer than 6,000 patients are expected to benefit from the free eye care and corrective surgeries of the MTNF EyeRIS. The first phase began some months back.

    Some of the beneficiaries had free surgery for cataract while others received reading glasses to treat presbyopia and medications for various ocular diseases.

    At the inauguration of the programme at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, Amosun said: “Early detection can prevent blindness or any other eye diseases,” adding that the MTNF is complementing the administration’s war against blindness.

    Amosun, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Olaokun Soyinka, said MTN’s intervention attested to the bond of partnership between the state government and the telecom service provider.

    Amosun said: “This intervention further demonstrates the strong partnership between the Ogun State Government and MTN Foundation in our shared value of assisting the under-privileged in the society.”

    Some of the beneficiaries praised the MTN Foundation and the state government for giving them the opportunity to regain their sight.

    Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, said no fewer than 6,000 people are expected to be screened for cataracts and other ocular diseases in Ogun State and its environs.

    He noted that the project, which enjoys the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Health, is being implemented in partnership with the Eye Foundation Centre for Prevention of Blindness (EFCPB) and in collaboration with ministries of health of beneficiary states.

    According to him, many cases of blindness and visual impairment in the country are preventable, as the foundation had, in the past one year, been actively engaged in the war to eradicate visual disabilities.

    “Since its launch in April last year, a total of 33,364 patients in six states have been treated for cataracts and other ocular diseases.”

    Okoro said the foundation intends to contribute towards increasing the cataracts surgical rate from 0.1% to 0.7% in the selected states, as this is in consonance with the World Health Organisation’s Vision 2020 Right to Sight Initiative.

    Mr Okoro further said MTN Foundation currently has 341 project sites across the six geo-political zones of the country, disclosing that it has spent over N10 billion on social projects in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.

    He said: “Aside from the three major portfolios, the foundation also proactively responds to national emergencies, providing millions of Naira worth of urgent relief materials to victims of such occurrences.

    “In the first phase of the MTNF EyeRIS project, Osun, Niger, Delta, Abia, Sokoto and Jigawa states benefitted from the intervention through eye screenings and surgeries as well as the provision of eye glasses and drug packs for the beneficiaries.”

  • Communities’ rousing welcome for Ajimobi

    Communities’ rousing welcome for Ajimobi

    There were erroneous beliefs by some that the support which the All Progressives Congress (APC) enjoys in Oyo State has nose-dived. However, BISI OLADELE writes that last week’s tours by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso and Oyo areas of the state showed strong signs that the governor’s profile as well as that of the party is on the rise.

    Though Ibadan does not occupy more than a quarter of the total land mass of Oyo State, hosting the state capital and the headquarters of 11 of the 33 local government areas, 65 per cent of both government and commercial activities in the state take place in Ibadan.

    With a huge population and central location, Ibadan has been the major focus for decades, thus taking the shine off other communities.

    Nevertheless, last week will remain a special one in the lives of many residents of Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and other major towns in Oke-Ogun areas of the state.

    It was a week traditional rulers, community leaders, politicians, professionals, artisans, students and others had a face-to-face interaction with their governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

    From Iseyin, Saki, Tede to Igbeti, Igboho, Ogbomoso and Oyo, the governor and members of his cabinet were received by surging crowds that acknowledged his impressive projects and peaceful tenure.

    The governor had undertaken the tours to the areas to see things for himself and have discussion with his subjects. Governor Ajimobi went on the tour with members of the State Executive Council, other political appointees and leaders of the party.

    He also used the opportunity to distribute appointment letters to newly recruited teachers in each of the local government areas. The teachers numbering 5,300 were recruited to fill the existing vacancies in the state’s school system.

    Though he had severally visited most of the towns on official assignments in the past, Governor Ajimobi literally relocated seat of government to other parts of the state. The tours, which started in Oke-Ogun, were rounded off in Oyo on Thursday.

    The tours began on Monday, November 3 with a visit to the 10 local government areas in Oke-Ogun. The visit lasted till Wednesday when he moved to Ogbomoso.

    Received by huge crowds at towns such as Saki, Iseyin, Tede, Igboho, Kishi and Igbeti, the governor met with traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, party stalwarts, professional bodies, artisans and ordinary folks in the zone.

    He distributed letters of appointment to the teachers just employed from Oke Ogun zone.

    While distributing the letters to the newly employed 2,500 primary school teachers from the area, Ajimobi pledged to continue to use the available resources to ensure even distribution of benefits of democracy across the five zones of the state.

    The programme, which was held at the Oja-Oba Market, witnessed the presence of party faithful, professional bodies and members of the public, even as the governor promised that his administration would continue to enhance the education sector in order to ensure standard.

    Governor Ajimobi said the previous administrations did not recruit any teacher during its tenure while its predecessor recruited only from Ibadan land and posted them to Oke-Ogun, pointing out that the teachers later moved to Ibadan through transfers, leaving schools in the area without teachers.

    He said the decision of his administration to recruit from Oke-Ogun and other local government areas was to prevent mass exodus of teachers from rural to urban areas.

    He, however, urged the newly recruited teachers to be dedicated to duty and work for the progress and development of Oyo State.

    Governor Ajimobi also used the opportunity of the event to accept new defectors to the APC.

    In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Busari Adebisi and his counterpart from the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, said the teachers recruited in the Oke-Ogun zone would be retained in the area.

    While receiving Governor Ajimobi in his palace earlier, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Adekunle, Ajinase 1, praised him for his high level of political maturity and security initiatives.

    He said the people of Iseyin were grateful to the state government for transforming the Iseyin Road into a dual carriage way despite the scanty resources available to the state.

    The monarch praised the efforts of the governor towards bringing development to all the areas of the state, stressing that the employment of teachers and other unemployed youths were indications of good governance.

    “We had never witnessed these unprecedented achievements in the history of Oyo State. I want to advise you to disregard the antics of the detractors and continue with your good works in Oyo State,’’ he said.

    In other towns in the zone, residents trooped out in large number to receive the governor.

    Traditional rulers in the zone pledged their unflinching support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of Governor Ajimobi in order to achieve success in the 2015 general elections.

    The monarchs included the Iba of Kishi, Oba Moshood Aweda Lawal; the Alamodu of Ago Amodu, Oba Adebowale Lawal; the Alago of Ago Are, Oba Olagoke Jubril; the Onitede of Tede, Oba Abdulrauf Oladoyin; the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale; the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba Emmanuel Oyebisi and Oba Rasheed Adekunle, the Onibode of Ona-Onibode.

    They described as unparalleled Governor Ajimobi’s achievements in the past three-and-a-half years.

    Indeed, the Alamodu of Ago Amodu was ecstatic as he sang several songs in his local dialect in praise of Governor Ajimobi for transforming the state.

    “We have seen the difference in your style of administration. Your commitment towards providing good governance and making life worth living for the people of Oyo State is unprecedented. Violence and brigandage which used to envelope the state before your coming on board has stopped. We are now sleeping with our two eyes closed.

    “We are solidly behind you. No government has done what your administration has done in Oyo State. No governor has shown love to the people of Oke-Ogun more than you have done,’’ they said, adding that the dual carriage way of Iseyin township road, the ongoing dual carriage way of Saki Township-Ilesha Ibariba Road and other road rehabilitation projects in the Oke-Ogun zone are evidence of the love the governor has for the zone.

    Responding, Governor Ajimobi assured the traditional rulers that his administration will continue to enhance the welfare of royal fathers, adding that they would be accorded due respect and honour.

    While urging the monarchs to continued their support for his administration, the governor stressed the need for them, especially those in Igboho land to be more united to ensure peaceful co-existence among themselves.

    In Ibarapa zone, the governor visited Eruwa, Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan and also visited the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola and the Asigangan of Igangan and Oba of Igboora.

    He also distributed letters of appointment to the teachers recruited from the zone.

    The Eleruwa praised the governor for his efforts towards developing the state.

    The monarch particularly acknowledged the governor’s restoration of peace and tranquillity in Oyo State as against the violence and thuggery that used to reign before he became the governor.

    He pledged his support and those of other traditional rulers in Ibarapa zone for the second term ambition of the governor.

    Governor Ajimobi promised to ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of democracy to all the five zones of the state.

    While at Ogbomoso on Wednesday, Ajimobi visited all the five local government areas.

    He also visited the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi  Ajagungbade III

    The monarch praised the governor’s passion for the development of Oyo State and pledged his continued support to his administration.

    Governor Ajimobi also had fruitful discussions with party faithful, community leaders, party leaders and other stakeholders in the zone.

    The governor and his team were treated to a rousing welcome by surging crowd in Oyo on Thursday.

    While at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, he was received by the Oyomesi, the baales, members of the Oyo royal family and community leaders.

    Oba Adeyemi debunked rumours that his relationship with the governor had been strained. He said he was solidly behind the second term aspiration of the governor.

    The monarch noted that the governor had been doing well to govern the state.

    “The governor has not offended me in any way. He has not done anything for us to part ways. We are still together. May God Almighty continue to guide him. If he offends me, I will tell him. If there is need for us to part ways, I would have told him, but there is no reason to warrant this,’’ the Alaafin said.

    Governor Ajimobi thanked the monarch for his rewarding pieces of advice to him the past three-and-a-half years of his tenure.

    He also corroborated the Aalafin’s assertion that the relationship between them is still cordial, even as he likened it to that of a father and son.

  • Lawmaker remembers Anambra communities

    Lawmaker remembers Anambra communities

    There is joy in four communities in Nnewi Local Government Area of Anambra State. Why? A good road network now runs through the communities. The roads were built by the Anambra State government at the instance of the lawmaker representing the areas, Hon. Rita Maduagwu.

    The communities are Ukpor, Akwa-Ihedi, Ezinifite and Ebenator, all in Nnewi South II State Constituency.

    Apart from the roads, the lawmaker has also brought succour to the less-privileged, including widows, giving hope to the hopeless.

    It was a huge relief for the communities after years of pain on the road.

    “This is what we call quality representation and bringing dividends of democracy to the people who made you what you are and not becoming a monster to the people because you are in power,” former Commissioner for Lands, Chief John Okoli Akirika told our correspondent.

    Virtually all the dilapidated roads in the sleepy communities which had been abandoned for many years are now in good condition.

    Businesses have started booming in the areas, while the communities have been flooded by non-natives, even as foreigners are now buying lands in those communities for development purposes.

    In addition, over 20 schools have been renovated by the government in conjunction with the lawmaker.  During one of Maduagwu’s empowerment programmes held at the Central School Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area, over 80 people, including youths and widows were empowered.

    Many dignitaries, including lawmakers, attended the event. Some of the lawmakers at the event were Ikem Uzoezie, Kingsley Iruba and Obinna Emenaka. They represent Aguata 1, Nnewi South 1 and Anambra East State Constituencies respectively. They described the lawmaker as a selfless leader who takes the affairs of her constituency very seriously.

    The items distributed to the beneficiaries were hair driers, power generating sets, sewing machines, grinding machines and trailer loads of rice and beans, among others.

    Some members of her constituency told our correspondent that Maduagwu had renovated many dilapidated schools, sunk over 10 boreholes and renovated hospitals in the areas.

    Furthermore, she assured the people that more roads would be constructed in other communities by the Governor Willie Obiano.

    In a chat with our correspondent, Hon. Maduagwu who is a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) revealed that the urge to render selfless service to humanity motivated her joining politics; having seen how the people in the area had suffered for years.

    She said: “I am happy that I have made an indelible impact in all these communities within my short stay in politics. It is not for me to blow my trumpet. I leave such to my people.”

    However, she urged the beneficiaries to put the empowerment items to good use for their benefit and those of their immediate families.

    Some of the beneficiaries praised Hon. Maduagwu for remembering the needy in the society.

    A 29-year-old Miss Chinyere Nwosu, who received a hair drier, described the lawmaker as Godsend to bring about development in all the communities.

    Mrs. Justina Onyema, a widow, who received one of the sewing machines, praised Hon. Maduagwu, adding that it had never been so good for the people of Nnewi South.

    Apart from the items of empowerment which some beneficiaries received, the sum of N10, 000 was given to some of the constituents to boost their businesses. They included Ifeanyi Ebo and Chioma Okoye, among others.

    Mr. Hyacinth Maduagwu, husband of the lawmaker told our correspondent that he was not disappointed by allowing his wife to go into politics.

    He said men should encourage their wives to join politics as such women with capability and focus do achieve sustainable developments in their callings.

    Mr. Maduagwu added that his wife was complementing his developmental efforts during his tenure as the President-General of his community.

    One of the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Albert Okpalaugo described Hon. Maduagwu has been a pillar of hope to the hopeless since she joined politics.

    He said if others elected by their communities are giving the people quality representation as Hon. Maduagwu does, most communities in the country would experience rapid development. He urged other lawmakers to emulate the lawmaker.

    The chairman of Nnewi South Local Government Area, Mr. Ossy Iyiegbu, praised the efforts of the lawmaker in making the council and communities in the area to enjoy benefits of democracy.

    The Principal of Zikson Secondary School, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Mrs. Victoria Igwe, told our correspondent that the lawmaker had transformed schools in the state since her tenure as Chairman, House Committee on Education and Sporting, adding that sporting activities had come alive once again.

  • Imo communities send SOS to state, Fed Govt

    Imo communities send SOS to state, Fed Govt

    What tops this comm-unity’s list of needs? Is it food, shelter or security? Whatever comes first, the people of Umukabia in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State know that roads are among their priorities. The residents want help from the state and federal governments.

    Umukabia does not only need good roads; they also require healthy water and electricity.

    Umukabia community, made up of 14 villages, is divided into two: Umukabia Ancient Kingdom, governed by HRH Eze Levi Anyaogu (Abia II of Umukabia) and Eze Virginus Onuoha (Imo 1 of Amaimo-Umukabia). These agrarian villages are known for their yam cultivation. They produce cassava, palm oil and livestock, among others.

    The Nation gathered that traders from all parts of the state and neighbouring Abia used to patronise the two most popular market days (Ekeala and Eke Umuodu) in the two communities to buy their farm produce.

    The community has produced great men such as the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss, Dr. Maurice Iwu and his younger brother Sir Cosmos who was once the Secretary to the Imo State Government (SSG), Sir Desmond Agu, (Bayelsa State Civil Defence Commandant), Chief Johnson Ekpunobi (Ehime Mbano PDP Chairman) among others. But what they need urgently now is state and federal government’s help to breathe life into it and restore the years of the locust and cankerworm.

    They say they will be happy if Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina who is promoting food security through farming will assist Umukabia farmers.

    The Nation reliably gathered that the agrarian Umukabia communities are gradually losing their dominance as one of the food baskets of Imo State due to bad road especially during these rainy days.

    Spokesman of the communities, Mr. Celestine Ike told our reporter that Umukabia Road, a major link to several other communities, has remained in a sorry state, full of pot-holes and dangerous gullies. Many call it a death trap.

    Said Ike, “Our people have suffered neglect since the defunct East Central State till the present administration; nothing has been done to alleviate the sufferings of our people. Most of us don’t go to the village except in the dry season.

    “Some of us including some of the prominent men that we have in the country don’t even try going to the village with our cars now that we are witnessing rainy season. If you do, you have to pack your car in a nearby village where you think that the vehicle can be safe until you want to go back to the township.

    “For me, I don’t stay beyond two or three days and when I know that I am going to stay longer, I go with public transport. It is indeed a terrible situation and how I wish you can come and see things for yourself.

    ”The last time government showed its presence in our area was during the Ohakim administration when the state government through NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) tried grading and rehabilitating the road but the situation grew from bad to worse after the contractors abandoned the road project; nothing has been done to address the situation we are facing here.

    ”The situation has degenerated so badly that we ended up eating our farm produce ourselves or dumping them on the farms to rot. That was not the situation in the past. People came to our markets to buy goods and give the farmers the opportunity to make more money from what they planted and harvested. They need to buy crop yields for the next planting season and as well, buy other things for themselves and their families. The situation is not the same today as many farmers are getting impoverished and I don’t know what the situation will look like in the future if our roads continue to be in this ugly state? “

    The traditional ruler of Umukabia Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Highness Eze Levi Anyaogu, in a telephone interview, described the state of federal and state roads that transverse his community and other adjourning villages as deplorable and lamented that their farm produce after being harvested from the farms ended up being dumped in various waste bins.

    ”If you can visit my community, in fact, you will cry for us. You will see what people are passing through because of bad roads. We are one of the communities that produce crops in a larger quantity. There is no road to send out some of the agricultural produce that we produce in my community.

    ”We will labour to plant seedlings and harvest them, but there is no way we can go out to sell them or for people to come in and buy what we harvested in the farm such that we ended up eating what we have harvested. Most of the things we produce are either eaten by ourselves or they will end up decaying in the farm.

    ”We produce palm oil, cassava and other things in large commercial quantity but no road to ferry them to the town for sales in the urban areas. We are eating them as well because we don’t see a way to send them out.

    ”The situation got from bad to worse after the Ohakim led administration graded and abandoned the road. We cannot drive our cars or even okada on the road in our communities because it is very bad and some of us because the road is bad trek to other villages.

    ”Motorcycles cannot pass through the roads in my community. My two cars are lying in my compound; there is no road to bring them out. I am appealing to the federal and state government to come to our rescue. The situation is so bad that we cannot do it ourselves and that is why we want government to please come to our rescue,” the traditional ruler of Umukabia Ancient Kingdom pleaded.