Bad roads: Abia monarch begs govt to end 30 years neglect of community
Amaiyi Okpo Community Leaders Urge State Government to Address Infrastructure Neglect
Arochukwu, Abia State — Eze Michael Ifi Njoku Kalu, the traditional ruler of Amaiyi Okpo in Ihechiowa, has urgently called on the Abia State Government to address the longstanding neglect of his community, which has persisted for over 30 years.
In an interview, Eze Njoku Kalu expressed frustration over the deteriorating condition of local roads, which he said has made vehicle access nearly impossible. He noted that as a result, many residents have opted not to return home, severely limiting mobility within the community.
The traditional ruler implored Governor Alex Otti to prioritize the restoration of the Okpo-Achara road as part of his ongoing infrastructure initiatives. He highlighted that no administration has attended to this essential project for three decades. “Residents are forced to walk long distances to reach neighboring communities,” he explained.
Visibly emotional, Eze Njoku Kalu reported that the poor state of roads in his domain has effectively disconnected residents from critical services. “The government has never paid attention to the road project for over 30 years. We trek to Umuchiakuma Junction. There’s no car in the community because vehicles cannot enter the village,” he added.
Despite being a border community that connects to Cross River and Akwa Ibom states and possessing a significant voting population, Amaiyi Okpo has seen minimal government investment in basic infrastructure. Eze Njoku Kalu appealed directly to the government: “We are pleading with Dr. Alex Otti to come into the community and help us.”
Community efforts to improve internal roads have not yielded substantial results, as Eze Njoku Kalu noted that the scale of needed repairs exceeds local capabilities. Former chairman of the Okpo Ihechiowa Development Union, Cletus Torti Oleh, corroborated the traditional ruler’s concerns, stating that traveling to Amaiyi Okpo has become increasingly difficult due to the poor infrastructure.
The lack of government-provided amenities exacerbates the challenges faced by residents, with few facilities available that were not supplied through the community’s own efforts.
