Residents of Ogbe Ojie community in Okpanam, Oshimili north local government Area of Delta State, have raised an urgent alarm over the deplorable state of their only access road, calling on the state government to take immediate action to prevent further hardship and environmental degradation.
According to the residents, the road has become virtually impassable, isolating the community from neighbouring areas and crippling social and economic activities.
They explained that the deteriorating condition of the road has intensified erosion in the area, resulting in damage to homes and farmlands.
Community members lamented that the worsening situation has disrupted daily life, traders and transporters now avoid the area, while schoolchildren struggle to attend classes during the rainy season due to severe flooding.
Some residents revealed that the community had, on several occasions, contributed funds to grade the road, but such efforts provided only temporary relief.
They expressed frustration that each rainfall deepens the erosion, threatening to wash away sections of the community if nothing is done urgently.
“We have done our best as a community, but the situation is beyond our capacity,” one resident said.
“We are pleading with the Delta State Government to come to our rescue before the road completely collapses.”
The residents emphasized that government intervention would not only restore access and boost local commerce but also prevent further environmental damage and improve the overall quality of life in the area.
They, therefore, appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to extend the state’s ongoing road rehabilitation and erosion control projects to Ogbe Ojie, describing their situation as “a disaster waiting to happen.”
However, during one of his press briefings, the State Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Infrastructure, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, assured that the state government is addressing road projects in phases.
