By Amaka Okoro
OBIARUKU/Nigeria: The people of Owa Abbi in Ukwuani Local Government Area, Delta state is crying for urgent government attention to restore their means of livelihood, as the bridge that links the community and their farmlands has collapsed for over four months.
An investigation carried out by this medium revealed that the bridge collapsed under the heavy weight of users as a result of ageing.
The bridge which is built across the Ethiope River is the only passage to the farmlands which are across the river.
Our investigation showed that since the collapse of the bridge, there had not been any formal effort by those in authority to fix the bridge, apart from the efforts made by the councillor representing the area, Mr. Ernest Achugbue, who donated the sum of N500, 000.00 to effect repairs on the bridge.
The amount according to the people of the community though was a welcome effort, despite the donation no work had been done apart from pegging of some selected spots in the river.
They complained that since the collapse of the bridge, they had faced series of untold hardship as they are now paying the sum of N400 to cross to the farm lands daily, combined with the unsafe nature of such movement as many had felled of the canoes into the river.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Council Area, Barr. Benedicta Ndudi Izuegbu-Osakuni said that the council had been trying to see that the bridge is fixed, as the economy of the community is dependent on farming, and majority of their farms are across the river.
According to her, an approval had been given by the state government for a makeshift bridge to be built and the money will soon be released to do that.
She appeals for calm among the people as the government is aware of their plights.
However, the people of the community are appealing to the members representing the Ukwuani constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly and at the Federal House of Representatives to come to the aid of the community.
