Ugboeke Onitsha Residents Seek Soludo’s Intervention, Use Canoes to Access Homes
Residents of Ugboeke Layout, near Akpaka Forest GRA in Onitsha Urban, have appealed to Governor Soludo over an uncompleted road project that has effectively cut them off from the rest of the city.
Ugboeke is a sprawling residential area situated between Akpaka GRA in Onitsha North LGA and Nsugbe.
Two years ago, the Soludo administration awarded a contract for the Akpaka-Nsugbe road, which includes a section connecting Housing Estate/Mopol Base to the 3-3 road. While the Akpaka road and the Housing Estate/Mopol Base section have been completed, the bridge linking Ugboeke Layout and Akpaka Forest remains a significant challenge.
The small iron bridge that previously served residents has been submerged due to flooding from the Omambala and Nkisi Rivers, effectively isolating the community.
Speaking on the situation, Acting Chairman of the Ugboeke Residents Landlords Association, Prince Chinedu Okonkwo, described life in the layout as a daily nightmare.
Residents have resorted to swimming or paddling canoes to cross the flooded area and connect to the rest of the city as they go about their daily activities.
Okonkwo noted that most children in the layout attend schools in Onitsha Urban and must cross the river daily alongside their parents.
He expressed growing fears over potential boat mishaps and drowning incidents on a daily basis.
He further stated that the residents fully support the Soludo administration and urged the governor to expedite the completion of the road construction and provide a standard bridge to ensure easy access for the community.
Okonkwo emphasized that completing the bridge and road project would facilitate easier evacuation of farm produce by farmers from the riverine communities of Anam into Onitsha by road, while also helping to decongest traffic at the 3-3 Junction.
The Treasurer of the Ugboeke Landlords Association, Chikereuba Idoko, lamented the psychological trauma children endure daily while commuting to school. He pleaded for urgent government attention, calling for the provision of a bridge to alleviate the residents’ suffering.
When contacted on the matter, Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma, acknowledged the government’s awareness of the residents’ plight and assured that efforts are underway to resolve the situation, subject to the availability of funds.
