Umuguma Residents Plead for Swift Repairs of Washed-off Road
Residents of Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State, are appealing to Governor Hope Uzodimma to urgently repair their main access road, which they say has become nearly impassable due to flooding.
Following heavy downpours over the weekend, several commuters and vehicles were stranded as waterlogged sections of the road made passage difficult.
Locals fear the worsening condition could completely cut them off from neighbouring communities if nothing is done soon.
For Austin Opara, who relocated to the area two years ago, the road has been a constant source of frustration. “Last year, my X-Terra jeep broke down after driving through the floodwater. It has been in the mechanic’s workshop since then. My family now relies on buses and motorbikes, which cost more than double the usual fare since the rains started,” he lamented.
The hardship is not limited to commuters. Small-scale traders, like Nkem Okezie, say the situation is crippling their businesses. She explained that many women source affordable produce from nearby Okuku community, but the flooded road has disrupted these trips. “Some traders have stopped selling altogether because their transport costs have eaten into their capital. I had to buy goods on credit just to stay afloat,” she said.
The road’s poor state has also hit commercial drivers and motorcyclists hard. Bus driver Emeka noted that constant repairs to vehicle parts were draining earnings, forcing many operators to abandon the route. A motorcyclist, Mohammed, described how accidents had become common on the slippery stretch, adding that his colleague was recovering from a leg injury after a fall.
Some residents say they were initially hopeful after hearing the governor announce that the road—from Control Post to Avu—had been awarded for reconstruction. But they claim work stalled soon after a few drainage clearances were done.
Repeated attempts to reach the state’s Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, for updates on the project’s status were unsuccessful.
PUNCH
