Residents of the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area in Imo State have expressed their frustration over the deplorable state of the region’s roads, which they claim is causing significant hardship.
Previous administrations’ neglect of these roads has led to economic and educational challenges for the communities.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, Dr. Ibe Nwoko, a leader of the Ngor Okpala Renaissance League, condemned what he termed “dishonest political brigandage.” He recounted a recent visit to the Chairman of the Ngor Okpala Council of Traditional Rulers, during which he and others became stuck in waterlogged roads.
“We had to pull off our shoes and stockings to wade through the waters,” Nwoko said, highlighting the lack of a motorable road to the local government headquarters in Umuneke. “Currently, there are no access roads in Ngor Okpala, making it difficult to connect with other parts of the local government and the state as a whole. All the roads are death traps.”
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He identified several critical roads in need of urgent repair, including the Ihette Junction to Umuneke Road and the Ulakwo-Nguru-Umuneke-Orisheze Road. Nwoko lamented that despite multiple elected officials representing the area since 1999, no meaningful road infrastructure has been constructed.
“We call on the federal government to come to our aid because the state government has failed us,” he urged, suggesting that Ngor Okpala should be declared a disaster area. “We expected the current governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, to be fair to us, given his party’s support in the area, but the reality is disappointing.”
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Residents are hopeful that their plea for improved infrastructure will prompt action from the authorities to address their pressing needs.
