The people of Umuekwune in Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo State have started the rehabilitation of their road. The 18-kilometer road connects from Imerienwe down to Umuoye Etche in Rivers State. The community took up this project through self-help efforts to alleviate the suffering of their people due to the deplorable condition of the road.
According to the traditional ruler of Egbelu Umuekwune Autonomous Community, His Royal Highness, Eze George Nwosu, “the deplorable condition and near collapse of all the major roads leading to our dear town, Umuekwune is alarming. These roads are so bad that it is near impassable even in dry season. Regrettably there is no sign that government agencies will do anything to repair them.”
He further lamented that Umuekwune’s neighboring communities have taken it upon themselves to work on their portion of the roads without waiting for the government. “Imerienwe community have completed work on the grading of their portion of the road from Ulakwo to Ihumiri Elem, our supposed boundary with them. At Owerri West side, Emeabiam /Umuokpo/Okpala communities have also completed the grading of their roads, leaving the adjoining roads to our town bushy, and deplorable.” He stated that if urgent step is not taken immediately to fix these roads before the rainy season, there will be no road to and from the town. The traditional ruler therefore called on Umuekwune sons and daughters at home, abroad and in diaspora to come to their aid towards the rehabilitation of the road.
Lending his voice to Eze Nwosu, the Traditional Prime Minister of Okpala Umuekwune Autonomous Community, High Chief Emeka Eguzoro said that the deplorable condition of the road has affected so many businesses in the community. Many vehicles have stopped operating on the road making it difficult for the people to transport their food products outside the town. Those returning from the cities especially during festive periods and other ceremonies are usually stranded. “If our people can lend helping hands collectively by contributing towards this project, it will go a long way to solve these problems. A little drop of water from various individuals will form a mighty ocean,” he said.
The coordinator of the road rehabilitation, Mr. Don Okere said that the project can be executed through crowd funding. He appealed to people to contribute as much as they can to carry out the project before the commencement of the rainy season. He informed The Qoheleth that the 18-kilometer rehabilitation from Ihumiri Elem to Umuezom is estimated to cost about N10.5m. This will take 12 working days. The cost areas include:
- Hiring of lowbed trailer to convey grader (caterpillar) machine N700,000
- 12 days machine work @ 400,00 per day will cost N4,800 000 (N4.8 million)
- 100 trips of red sand @ 45,000 per trip will cost N4,500,000 (N4.5 million)
- 5% Contingency @ N500,000
Total: N10,500,000 (Ten million, five hundred naira)
In view of this, a WhatsApp group has been created comprising notable sons and daughters of Umuekwune where inputs and feedback are gathered. An account has also been opened with GT Bank with account number 0912598553 for payments.
It could be recalled that Umuekwune community has indulged in previous self-help efforts which had yielded desired fruits for the people. They include a secondary school, health centre, markets, churches and bridges. Many people from other parts of the state are also investing in Umuekwune. The people of Umuekwune have also supported and voted for various politicians who are in positions of authorities today. The traditional ruler therefore appeals to such investors, politicians, in-laws, friends and well-wishers to join hands toward the full implementation of this project.
Meanwhile, donations have started coming in from various people in Nigeria and diaspora. Eze George Nwosu and members of the committee expressed their gratitude to the donors and those who will donate. In his words: “I sincerely wish to commend your spirit of patriotism in our collective desire to give our town a facelift through our proposal to rehabilitate our roads. God bless you. I’ve followed the various opinions expressed so far and must admit a sense of fulfillment of our capacity to achieve our objective. We should go into action because there’s no time left. We’re like the proverbial “achara di woro miri.” Any talk about government doing it should be perished for now. While we continue to pursue that, we can do some remedial work on the road to make it useable this year. We’ve achieved more ambitious projects in the past. Let us rouse our “Umuekwune Can do” spirit.”
It can be recalled that the governor in collaboration with NDDC is planning to build a standard road from Ulakwo through Imerienwe, Umuekwune to Etche, Rivers State. The temporary rehabilitation is to alleviate the suffering of the people before the road is built by the government.
