The traditional ruler of Ntalakwu Ancient Kingdom in Itumbauzor, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Chike Okorie, has appealed to the Federal Government and Governor Alex Otti to urgently rehabilitate the dilapidated Umuokpe Ntalakwu road and address the lack of potable water in his community.
The monarch, who spoke about the challenges facing his people, said the poor condition of the road and persistent water shortage had worsened economic hardship and health concerns among residents.
Eze Okorie, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, lamented that indigenes living in urban centres were finding it increasingly difficult to access the community, while residents living in the area faced challenges travelling out in search of basic amenities.
He urged the Federal and Abia State governments to urgently fix the Umuokpe Ntalakwu road, saying the poor condition of the route had severely affected economic activities in the community, whose residents are predominantly farmers.
The traditional ruler recalled a recent incident in which a vehicle transporting a corpse to the community became stuck in mud along one of the worst sections of the road. He said youths were eventually forced to carry the casket on their heads to the burial venue.
“Recently, the corpse of our female granddaughter, which was being brought into my community before her burial, as the tradition demands, got stuck because of the deplorable condition of the road,” he lamented.
Eze Okorie appealed to Governor Otti and the Federal Government not to neglect his community while road projects are being executed in other parts of the state.
He also raised concerns over the community’s water crisis, revealing that residents rely on the same stream for drinking and bathing because there is no alternative source of potable water.
“My community drinks and bathes from the same community stream because we don’t have any other source, and this is dangerous to the health of my people. We need help,” the monarch said.
Also speaking, the President-General of Umuokpe Ntalakwu Concerned Citizens, William Osondu, and the Women Leader, Divine Uka, said the poor road network had made it difficult for residents to access schools and markets.
They lamented that the condition of the hilly and badly damaged road had become particularly dangerous for schoolchildren, with some pupils reportedly falling while trying to navigate the route.
BACKSTORY:
Residents of Ntalakwu Ancient Kingdom in Itumbauzor, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, have continued to face challenges linked to poor infrastructure, particularly the deteriorating Umuokpe Ntalakwu road and lack of potable water.
The community, which is largely made up of farmers, relies heavily on the road to transport farm produce and access markets, schools and other essential services. The poor state of the route has reportedly affected economic activities and made movement difficult for residents.
The traditional ruler, Eze Chike Okorie, has therefore appealed to the Federal Government and Abia State Government to intervene urgently. He also raised concerns over residents’ reliance on a community stream for both drinking and bathing, warning of the potential health risks associated with the situation.
