Residents of Umuokanne and Ohoba communities in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have appealed to the state government and relevant authorities to rehabilitate a major road linking the communities, saying its deplorable condition has cut them off from healthcare, markets and neighbouring communities.

The residents who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Metro on Saturday said the road, which connects Ohoba, Umuokanne and several other communities in Imo State and neighbouring Rivers State, had been abandoned for more than 15 years after it was last graded.

A resident, Cyril Nokaa, said the road condition had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer motorable, forcing residents and motorists to seek longer alternative routes.

Nokaa said, “The road has been abandoned for many years. There was a time they graded it, but it is over 15 years now. It is a major road connecting Ohoba and Umuokanne, and you can use it to get to Owerri.”

According to him, the poor condition of the road has affected farmers who could no longer easily transport their produce to markets, while residents have also been disconnected from neighbouring communities.

“We are farmers, and we have farm produce, so we cannot go to the market again because of the bad nature of the road. It is not something to write home about,” he said.

He also raised concerns over insecurity, saying the abandonment of the road had created an environment where criminals could operate freely.

He said motorists, including commercial buses and private vehicle owners, had stopped using the road because of fears of kidnapping and robbery.

“Due to the nature of that road, bad elements have taken advantage of robbing people. If you eventually take that road, something can happen to you—you can be kidnapped,” he said.

He added that the poor condition of the road had also affected access to healthcare, noting that residents previously relied on the Umuokanne General Hospital, which was closer to them.

“Initially, Ohoba and Umuokanne used that hospital. But the hospital has been abandoned. Since the road was abandoned, we no longer go to that hospital because that is the only general hospital in the area,” he said.

He said residents now travel to Owerri for medical treatment despite the longer distance, adding that the hospital had deteriorated into what he described as a clinic.

Another resident and community leader, Ekeruo Promise, described the road as an “interconnectivity road” linking several communities across Imo and Rivers states.

Ekeruo said the road linked communities including Obinze, Oforola, Mgbishii, Obitti, Mgbirichi, Umuagwo, Assa and parts of Rivers State.

He said, “The road we are talking about is an ancient road. Through that road, we have intermarried and gone so far in life. That road is an interconnectivity road—a road that connects so many communities.”

According to him, the road had become completely impassable because of severe waterlogging, making it difficult for residents of the neighbouring communities to interact or conduct economic activities.

“This time around, you cannot pass through that road; it is impassable. The water logs there are so much that you cannot even manage any part,” he said.

Ekeruo said the road also served as a bypass connecting parts of Imo and Rivers states, adding that its poor condition had affected agricultural activities and movement between communities.

He said, “That road has promoted agricultural activities. But because of rural sprawl and development, it is becoming more important. We have tried our best to involve the government and political establishment to make sure the road is constructed, but no way.”

The community leader further linked the abandoned road to rising security concerns, saying its condition had created opportunities for criminal elements to operate.

“The road, summarily, is a death trap now. Whenever a road is bad, it brings an evil influence, a kind of criminal influence. That place now is easy for criminals to operate,” he said.

He appealed to the Imo State Government, the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Niger Delta Development Commission and other relevant authorities to intervene, stressing that the residents were not demanding a dual carriageway but a road that would restore basic connectivity.

“We are not talking about dualisation, but at least in a way that the road will be passable, where people can move through that road to any part of Rivers State or Imo State,” Ekeruo said.

The residents said they had previously approached the local government and written to the government over the road but claimed that their appeals had not resulted in any meaningful intervention.

Reacting to the concerns of the residents in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the government did not abandon the road.

He noted that there is a major link road to the Ohoba-Umuokanne road that is under construction and which would make it easier to construct the dilapidated surrounding roads.

“It is off this major road, which has also been in a very bad condition. The road leads to several interior communities, so for the rehabilitation of that road to be meaningful, the major road must first be fixed. Even if work is to commence there, construction materials would have to be transported through the major road. It would not make sense to rehabilitate the interior road while the major access road remains in poor condition.

“There are so many roads in Imo State, and the government has done well in addressing as many as possible. However, all the roads cannot be fixed at the same time. I urge the residents to be patient. I am sure that, sooner rather than later, the road will be fixed,” Emelumba said.