By Magnus Emuji
OKPANAM/Nigeria: After more than two decades of devastating gully erosion, the Ikejani of Okpanam, Chief Felix Okafor, has appealed to the Delta State Government led by Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently come to the aid of Ogbeozoma community in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state.
Chief Okafor, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Felinco Motors, made the appeal while speaking with journalists in Okpanam, describing the erosion menace as a long-standing challenge that has continued to worsen with time.
He disclosed that the Diokpa-Isi of Okpanam, Apostle Joseph Aninye, an indigene of Ogbeozoma, has lived in the community without an accessible road, a situation compounded by the advancing gully erosion, which he said has remained a major source of concern to the traditional leadership.
According to Okafor, the erosion has completely destroyed the major road linking Ogbeozoma to the Asaba–Benin Expressway, as well as other adjoining roads within the community, adding that several residential buildings are now under serious threat from the expanding gullies.
He explained that residents of Ogbeozoma have been finding it increasingly difficult to access their homes, noting that the erosion problem began over 20 years ago and has steadily deteriorated due to the absence of effective government intervention.
The community leader stressed that the only lasting solution to the erosion crisis is for the state government to embark on comprehensive road construction and provide adequate drainage infrastructure to control runoff and prevent the collapse of buildings.
Okafor said that while the community has resorted to self-help efforts to make the roads manageable, Ogbeozoma is now at the verge of being completely cut off from other parts of Okpanam if urgent measures are not taken.
He described Ogbeozoma as a densely populated community with significant voting strength, recalling that the people overwhelmingly supported the governor and candidates of his party during the 2023 general elections.
Chief Okafor reaffirmed the unalloyed support of the people of Ogbeozoma community for the Oborevwori administration, expressing confidence that the community would again mobilise massive votes for the governor in the 2027 elections.
