ENUGU— The People of Akiyi-Umulokpa Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State has made a passionate and urgent appeal to the government of Enugu State under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to come to their rescue and help them rebuild a collapsed bridge in their community that has kept them disconnected from their neighbouring towns for Seven Years now.
The inhabitants of the community who made the appeal when our correspondent visited the area, said the bridge which collapsed since 2012 during the administration of the immediate past Governor Sullivan Chime, has continued to pose as a major burden to the people of the community.
The bridge we learnt connects Akiyi-Umulokpa village to their local government Headquarters – Uzo-Uwani is also the major leeway into the community.
The bridge was said to have collapsed when the former Local Government Chairman of Uzo-Uwani, Cornell Onwubuya was supervising the construction of an alternative road that connects Umulokpa, the headquarters of Uzo-Uwani and Olo in Ezeagu LGA.
Community sources said the collapse which has created disconnection between villages, occurred when the construction company- TOMANDO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY tried to convey materials for their construction work, added that the bridge has not received any attention from the government since its collapse seven years ago.
Speaking to our correspondent, Mr. Madubuike, a native of the community wondered why Umulokpa, one of the oldest LGA headquarters that existed in the old Anambra State will be totally neglected in such a manner.
“We are host to Umulokpa, one of the oldest LGA in Enugu State existing even in the old Anambra State. What’s the explanation for this neglect and what is looking like hatred for our people?” he asked.
He went further to say that the hardship their people has been made to go through all these years “is better imagined” as they have been living
in pains.
Speaking on the economic meltdown the collapse of the bridge has brought to them, a lady that identified herself as Uzoamaka and spoke in her native language said “we are practically living from hands to mouth, we can no longer trade with neighbouring communities. If you want to take your crop produce to the market using the alternative route, you will spend a great fortune on transportation thus leaving you with little or nothing after selling your products.
“Imagine crisscrossing Amagu-Umulokpa, Ibite-Olo then Oba-Ofemmiri all in a bid to sell your farm produce?” she concluded.
Appealing to the State government to quickly come to their aid, the community members said hoodlums now hold sway in the area as they have since capitalized on the abysmal condition of the road to carry out various nefarious activities since the road leading to the collapsed bridge has been overtaken by a thick forests.
