Section of the road
The people of Abua Odual Local Government Area, have taken Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State to task over the failure to deliver on a road project initiated in the area by his administration.
The project linking five communities including, Emoh, Ogbemakoku, Iyak and Elok, was contracted out to Monier Construction Company, MCC, in October, 2016 with a mandate to complete the job in six months but several months after, the road which is barely constructed beyond earth scrapping, has since been abandoned.
Signpost of failure
Disturbed by the neglect and the attendant stress the state of the project is inflicting on the people, at a one-day sensitization/discussion organized at Ayama Abua Central in conjunction with Kukpe Foundation, a community advancement committed non-governmental organization, on May 18, 2021, they are calling on Governor Nyesom Wike to exhibit his known penchant for project conclusion in their road project.
Director Kukpe Foundation, Mr. Mark Kukpe in his address informed that on the day the road project was flagged off, the governor promised it would be completed within seven months but rather than be
Section of the abandoned road
completed, the project has become abandoned without even being done halfway.
He said it is even more disheartening that the state of the road is now worse than the original state and while projects in other areas like Ogoni are being completed and commissioned, the Abua/Odual project is abandoned leaving the people in agony over how to negotiate the road as the rains intensify.
Unfinished portions
The contractor for the project, Monier Construction Company, MCC has according to the people, pulled its equipment off the site.
The people had welcomed the project with excitement as it was supposed to expand the economic and social base of the agrarian communities in the area but that joy has
Locals manage portions of the road that are mere footpaths
been truncated by the failure by the state government to fulfill its promise to deliver on the road.
Community people are currently experiencing serious difficulty plying the road which links them to their farm, markets and neighbouring communities.
They are now asking Wike to make Abua/Odual feel a sense of belonging in the state.
National Point was informed that the LGA is the only area without representation in the Wike executive cabinet, an anomaly they want corrected, as well.