By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin City
Residents of Egoro -Na-Oka Community in Esan West Local Government of Edo State have expressed concern over the deplorable state of the road that links them with neighboring Ekpoma Town.
The residents complained of the non accessible situation of the road mostly at this peak of rainy season.
They said that erosion has degraded the road thereby making it inaccessible and has cut them off from the local government headquarter.
Our correspondent learnt that the inhabitants, who are mostly farmers, want the road attended to and be given urgent attention.
Speaking to our correspondent in the community, Omozejiele Ebalunegbefoh, said the deplorable state of the road has become a nightmare to him and source of concern to his people.
He said his people are cut off from other communities like, Ebudin, Opoji and Ekpoma town where they normally sell their farm products. He said vehicles hardly ply the road after heavy down pour, adding that erosion usually wash away portions of the road.
“Farmers are worst hit as they find it difficult to transport their farm produce to the market in Ekpoma Town.” He said.
According to him, “farming is the major occupation of my people, especially with varieties such as, yam, pineapple, plantain, gari, rice, maize, pawpaw and others.”
He said all inhabitants of the community are all peasant farmers and their economy is affected negatively by the deplorable state of the road.
He said, the road has continued to suffer neglect by successive governments. He however said the people have continuously be grading the road, adding that their efforts alone will not be enough, saying they want a permanent solution to the problem.
Also a native of the community and a commercial motorcycle rider, Itua Ehimen , who constantly ply the road said, the costs of maintaining his motorcycle is on the high side , especially with the current trend of economy.
“I tried to maintain the transport system but it is gradually getting out of hand as I could no longer afford to repair the motorcycle daily due to the bad state of the road.
” My people always come out in large numbers to cast their votes on every election, even the last election can testify to this as APC won in the community”, he stated .
They however applaud the doggedness of the present governor, Godwin Obaseki for being the first governor to remember the community.
They appealed to him to come to their aid as 70 percent of food products consumed in the university town of Ekpoma come from Egoro Na Oka community.
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