PEOPLE OF AWKA NORTH LGA LAMENT POOR ROADS, SEEK URGENT GOVT INTERVENTION
The poor condition of roads in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State has continued to worry residents of the food producing area.
To this end, some community leaders in the area have called on both federal and state governments to, as a matter of urgency, save their souls as the situation has become almost unbearable, especially for road users.
Radio Nigeria interacted with some of the stakeholders, who decried the level of neglect from the government, despite the presence of some Federal and State establishments in the locality.
Local government areas were made the third tiers of government.
The aim is to bring development closer to the grassroots and give the people greater sense of belonging.
However, the situation in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State is a sharp contrast from this essence, with poor condition of basic infrastructure or outright lack of them.
Awka North is one of the local government areas within the Awka capital Territory.
It has ten communities namely: Ugbene, Ugbenu, Awba Ofemili, Ebenebe, Amansea, Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu, Urum, Amanuke and Achalla, which is the headquarters.
A community leader and former President General of Amansea, Dr. Mike Ekwunife, expressed regret that despite being part of the Capital Territory, the decay in almost all the indices of development like health, education, and electricity, left them to wonder if really they were part of the state.
Dr. Ekwunife particularly decried the poor road networks in the area despite their political and economic contributions to the development of the state.
Another respondent, Dr. Alphonsus Okoye, noted that the state of the roads made it impossible for famers to transport produce to urban centres.
For a former Council Chairman of the local government, Mr. Shedrack Anekwe, who hails from Amanuke, the people of the area called on the government to declare a state of emergency on all the roads in Awka North as the dry season sets in.
The traditional Prime Minister of Ugbenu, Chief Jude Nwokolo, lamented that the area had so been neglected by successive administrations despite being one of the food baskets of the state.
According to Chief Nwokolo, the importance of road to the development of any society can never be over emphasized.
He says is pertinent that the government makes good its promises to the people of Awka North and other parts of the state by ensuring that roads in the area are completed and to reduce the sufferings of the masses.
UCHE NDEKE
