Anambra: Residents begin palliative work on bridge after losing three successive lives to overflow

Residents of Isuaniocha community embark on palliative work on Mpiri Bridge after loosing three persons to successive overflow.

It is the duty of government to provide infrastructure for communities under it including provision of roads , bridges , health facilities, among other amenities.
But what happens when government is not forthcoming with these life sustaining amenities and the people continue to experience hardship and loss of lives and property occasioned by either road mishap or poor healthcare services.

This is the situation the people of Isuaniocha community , in Awka North Local government area of Anambra state found themselves over the years as they continue to beckon on government for rescue without any coming their way.

The situation prompted youths and other residents of the area to take. The challenge upon themselves to embark on road rehabilitation and disilting of waterways and bridges in the area.

In an interview , the president general of the community , chief Vincent Nwokolo regretted that despite several attempts to get government attention fromto construct the Isuaniocha Enugwu Agidi road , the road has continued to be a nightmare.

According to him, the mpiri river which usually overflows during rainy seasons had carried more than three school children who made attempt to cross the road from school.

Another resident , Chief Michael Okeke narrated that due to the deplorable state of the road, he takes the risk of plying a bush path after close of work every evening.

For Mr Onyekachukwu Okafor while collaborating the earlier claims that three children had been washed away by the overflowing Mpiri stream , said a middle aged girl was still missing since she was carried away by the river .

The Chairman of Youths in Isuaniocha , Ozor Onyemazu Ngini who regretted the leave of neglect by successive administrations in the state said if the roads were not repaired before the rains set in, human and vehicular movement may be very difficult for the residents.

Ozor Ngini explained that the youths having waited for government without any response, decided to embark on palliative works on Obibia bridge, Mpiri bridge and other major roads in the area.

Contributing, Mr Chukwujekwu Okoye noted that several developers who wanted to site factories and industries in the area had left because of the dilapidated Isuaniocha Enugwu Agidi road which is a short cut to get out of Awka North local government to other parts of the state.

He regretted that the situation has also denied the youths many job opportunities and also retard the wheel of development of the area which is fast becoming an alternative location for middle and low income earners .

An indigene of the area and supervisor for the ongoing dredging of the Mpiri river , Mr Uchenna Onyi , explained that all the water flowing from neighboring communities comes down to Isuaniocha causing the river to always overflow the road and causing nightmare to the people.

The people of the area therefore appealed to the Anambra state government to urgently cone to their assistance as their lean resources could not Carry the level and quality of work they have embarked upon on the road.

They are also of the opinion that when government comes to their rescue and construct the road, it will no doubt encourage more people to go into farming business and in turn contribute to the food security of the state and country at large.