Give Us Access Road,Anam community Cries to FG, Anambra Govt as Traditional Ruler Decries Destruction of Crops by Flood
The traditional ruler of Eziora Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Nwoji Ben Onyeka, has renewed the call for urgent intervention from both the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government to construct access roads to Anam farming communities.
Speaking at the celebration of the Otteh (New Yam) Festival held by Umuikwu Anam residents in Okpanam, Delta State, the monarch represented by his son, Prince Nnamdi Onyeka lamented the persistent neglect of Anam communities, particularly the lack of road infrastructure, which continues to cripple agricultural activities in the area.
According to Igwe Onyeka, his people are requesting just two basic but essential interventions from both tiers of government: the provision of fertilizers and the construction of access roads to Eziora Anam, with a specific appeal for the Umuikwu axis.
“Anambra West is the only local government in the state without access roads,” “The only way we connect with the outside world is by river, and this severely limits our farming activities.”the royal father said.
He added that despite being a major food-producing area, the lack of road infrastructure means that farmers often cannot evacuate their harvests to markets in Onitsha, Asaba, and other urban centers. As a result, produce often rots on the farms, leading to significant financial losses.
“We produce food but cannot evacuate it. Most of our crops go to waste because we rely solely on waterways, which are not reliable, especially during flooding,” he said.
Igwe Onyeka also bemoaned the recurrent floods that submerge farmlands, washing away crops and rendering the efforts and investments of local farmers—many of whom take loans to finance their operations—fruitless.
Echoing the traditional ruler’s concerns, Hon. Anthony Etukokwu Egwuatu, President of the Umuikwu Anam General Assembly, Okpanam branch, emphasized that the lack of access roads is not limited to Eziora Anam but is a general problem across Anambra West.
“We are predominantly farmers, but we can’t transport our produce—especially from Umuikwu—because there are no roads,” “Every year, our people suffer huge losses because of this. Anambra West has the potential to feed not just the state but beyond, if only we had infrastructure.”he lamented.
Egwuatu, however, commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his education-friendly policies, which he said have encouraged many families in Anam to enroll their children in school. He pledged that the Anam communities would support Governor Soludo in the upcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election, should he show commitment to addressing their infrastructure needs.
Also speaking, Chief Nnamdi Udalor, former chairman of the Umuikwu General Assembly, Okpanam branch, stressed the need for a bridge across the Omambala River to connect to Umuikwu and a road linking Ololo to other Anam clans.
According to Udalor, the previous administration under Governor Willie Obiano made an attempt to construct the road to Umuikwu but abandoned the project due to challenging terrain. He appealed to Governor Soludo to live up to his “Solution Governor” mantra and bring tangible development to the long-neglected region.
“He has our full support in this election, but he must bring his ‘Solution’ to Anam. We desperately need it,” Udalor added.
