September 30, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
Agu Umabor residents in Eha-Alumona, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, are pleading for urgent government intervention as erosion severely damages their only access road.
The critical Agu Umabor-Eha-Alumona-Breme-Mbu-Ikem Road, connecting Nsukka and Isi-Uzo LGAs, has been ravaged by gully erosion.
The erosion has eaten deep into nearly two-thirds of the road, preventing vehicles from plying the route and stranding residents and farm produce.
What was once a 15-20 minute journey from Ikem, the headquarters of Isi-Uzo LGA to Nsukka LGA, now takes approximately 2 hours or more.
Residents are forced to take alternative routes through Obolo-Afor in Udenu LGA or Enugu East LGA to connect to Nsukka.
The community, with a population of around 100,000 people, relies heavily on the road for transporting agricultural produce.
The Agu Umabor Elites Group has sent a Save Our Soul petition to Governor Peter Mbah, appealing for timely intervention to prevent further deterioration and alleviate suffering.
The group noted that earlier appeals were made to the state governor as the road was about to be cut off completely by gully erosion.
“Agu Umabor people are law-abiding citizens and predominantly farmers,” the group stated.
“This is the only road through which they bring out their farm and other agricultural produce. We are again appealing to Enugu State Government and all public-spirited individuals to come to our rescue as the road needs urgent attention and may not likely survive the remaining part of the rainy season.”
