ABOH/Nigeria: Communities in the oil-rich Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State have raised alarm over the dire living conditions caused by years of neglect, worsened by recent floods that destroyed roads and isolated them from the rest of the state.
In a statement made in Lagos by Pastor Godwin Osademe, a rural development advocate and pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the affected communities expressed frustration at the lack of infrastructure and exclusion by both state and federal governments. They called for urgent intervention from the Delta State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and other relevant agencies to address the challenges they face.
According to Osademe, the worst-hit communities include Akarai Etiti, Akarai Obodo, Umuti, Iyiowu, Onogbokor, Afiankwo, Umuolu, and Iyede-Ame. He described the situation as “unbearable,” citing the erosion of the already poor earth roads by floods, skyrocketing prices of goods and services, and the destruction of agricultural produce, the primary livelihood of the people.
“Farmers are now forced to plant their crops in January and harvest prematurely in August due to flooding. This has led to severe food shortages and left many in poverty and starvation,” Osademe lamented.
He added that the once-functional earth roads connecting these communities to Aboh, Kwale, and Onitsha for trade have become impassable, further deepening their plight. “In 1983, Governor Ambrose Alli of the defunct Bendel State initiated a road project to link these communities, but it was abandoned after his tenure. Since then, no governor has visited or addressed the suffering of these communities,” he said.
Osademe highlighted the skyrocketing cost of goods in the area due to the absence of accessible roads. “A bag of cement that costs N10,500 in Aboh is transported at an additional N1,500 per bag to the nearest community. This is the harsh reality for a region that contributes significantly to the nation’s crude oil revenue.”
He questioned the roles of the NDDC, DESOPADEC, and the Delta State Government in alleviating the suffering of the people, describing the situation as a betrayal of the Millennium Development Goals often touted by policymakers.
“These communities urgently need road infrastructure, potable water, and support for agricultural development. The government and its agencies must step up and fulfill their responsibilities,” Osademe pleaded.
He called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration to prioritize the plight of Ndokwa East and provide tangible support to lift the communities out of their worsening hardships.
Credit: pmnewsnigeria.com
