The residents and those doing business at Location 15 Umuebule II in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have cried out to the state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for support in fixing their only but deplorable road.
“For a longtime, we have been managing it but the challenge has now overwhelmed us hence the call for the state government to come to our rescue”.
Speaking with newsmen over the weekend during a guided tour of the area, the Acting Chairman of the Landlord Association in the area. Mr. Solomon Ejiofor lamented the situation where vehicles and school children fall into the muddy water on the road on daily basis without any hope in sight.
He recalled that for a long time, the landlords, tenants, shop and school owners in the area had relied on self help by contributing and working the road but that the situation is now above their capability and purse with the condition getting worse by the day, hence the call for the state government’s intervention to save lives and project.
The landlords recalled that because of the deplorable condition of the road, motor bikes which is the only means of transportation from the area to the Oyigbo expressway now charge N200 from the normal N50. And that whenever it rains or dark the fare catapults to between N500 to N1,000 each journey, calling on the state government to ameliorate their sufferings for God’s sake.
The chairman recalled again that even when Shell Petroleum Company were in charge and now that an indigenous businessman, Mr. Tony Elemelu’s Heirs Holding Oil and Gas Company has taken over, they don’t look their way despite their social corporate responsibility obligation to the area.
This, he said was despite their visits to appeal to the company’s management and several assurances to do something soon.
He further lamented that despite the frustrating condition, the state and Etche Local Government Council Revenue Taskforce members come periodically to forcefully collect taxes and levies from them ranging from N3,000 to N5,000 per individuals.
Mr. Ejiofor equally lamented the absence of Electric Power in the area for upward of six months now despite their effort and visits to the authorities.
“We even at a point suggested that if it is possible we should be reconnected to the Elelenwo Power Station instead of the Afam Power Station.
“We don’t have any problem with NEPA or Power Holding as some of us even have prepaid metres installed and we are peaceful community,” he said.
The chairman also stated that the power challenges is now having a toll on the people as they now rely on portable generating set with its added cost and hazards.
He said the location 15 area as a whole has no security challenges as the police have a synergy with the local vigilante group to secure the residents on agreed fee.
“We do not have water challenge either as most of us have borehole water dug in our houses,” he said.
