Residents of Ugboeke layout near Akpaka forest GRA, Onitsha urban have cried out to Governor Soludo over their uncompleted road project which has cut off people of the area from the rest of the city.
Ugboeke is a sprawling residential area located in between Akpaka GRA, Onitsha North LGA and Nsugbe. Two years ago, the Soludo administration awarded the Akpaka Nsugbe road contract with a section that connects Housing Estate / Mopol Base to 3-3 road. With the Akpaka road and Housing Estate Mopol Base section completed, the bridge that connects Ugboeke Layout and Akpaka forest has remained a big challenge as the small iron bridge previously serving them has been submerged by flood from the Omambala/ Nkisi River, cutting off the residents.
Speaking on the development, Acting Chairman, Ugboeke Residents Landlords Association, Prince Chinedu Okonkwo said life for the people of the layout has been a daily nightmare as residents swim, paddle canoe to cross over and connect to the other side of the word as they go in and out for their daily engagements.
Okonkwo noted that most children resident in the layout attend schools in Onitsha urban as they move out with their parents for the day’s business and there are increasing fears of boat mishap and drowning in the river on daily basis.
He noted that the residents are fully supporting the Soludo administration and called on the governor to expedite action in the construction work and also provide a standard bridge for the residents to have easy access in the area.
He said provision of the bridge and completing the road project will make it easy for farmers in the riverine communities of Anam to evacuate their farm produce easily into Onitsha by road and also decongest traffic from 3-3 Junction.
Treasurer of the Ugboeke Landlords Association, Chikereuba Idoko lamented the psychological effect and trauma which children of the area pass through daily as they commute to school. He pleaded for government urgent attention on the situation through the provision of a bridge in the area to ease the sufferings of the people.
Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okonma when contacted on the development, said government is aware of the plight of the people in the area and is working to remedy the situation subject to availability of funds.
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