By Juliet Ugah
The youths of Onicha Ugbo and Idumuje Ugboko, communities in Aniocha North local government area of Delta state have staged a protest along Onicha Ugbo – Idumuje Ugboko road to display their frustration over the decadence of the road that linked both villages.
The deteriorated road popularly known as “Abuja road” is the shortest access route from South East and South South Nigeria to Abuja and the North. It links Onitsha Benin City Express way at Onicha Ugbo junction with Idumuje Ugboko, Ewohimi, Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Irrua, Auchi to Abuja and beyond.
Emerald News reports that the road was built by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC over 10 years ago and since then has recorded zero percent maintenance from the said commission. Notable people like Dr. Ibe Kachikwu of Onicha Ugbo and Prince Ned Nwoko of Idumuje Ugboko have tried to repair it but the road being a major road keeps on deteriorating due to heavy vehicles like Dangote and BUA cement trailers and also luxury buses that ply the road daily.
“The damaged area is so deep in some parts that it routinely sinks a whole Dangote cement trailer during rainy season” one of the villagers said.
The rural populace could no longer bear the gruesome experience of plying this road so the youths staged a protest, calling on all tiers of government to intervene especially the state government as it is near impossible to get NDDC to do the needful, hence the intense frustration being displayed by the youths.
