Residents lament as bad road isolates Imo communities

Residents of Umuokanne and Ohoba communities in Imo State's Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area have expressed frustration over a poor road that has isolated their communities from healthcare, markets, and neighboring areas. The road, which connects Ohoba, Umuokanne and several other communities in Imo State and neighbouring Rivers State, has been abandoned for over 15 years.

A resident, Cyril Nokaa, stated that the road had become impassable, forcing residents and motorists to seek longer alternative routes. The poor condition of the road has impacted farmers who cannot easily transport their produce to markets, and also disconnected residents from neighbouring communities. Nokaa raised concerns about insecurity, saying the abandonment of the road had allowed criminals to operate freely, leading to instances of kidnapping and robbery.

He also noted that the poor condition of the road had affected access to healthcare, as residents now have to travel to Owerri for medical treatment instead of the Umuokanne General Hospital. Community leader Ekeruo Promise emphasized the road's importance as an "interconnectivity road" that links several communities across Imo and Rivers states, and appealed to the Imo State Government and other relevant authorities to intervene and address the road's condition.

The government has stated that a major link road to the Ohoba-Umuokanne road is under construction, but emphasized the need for patience as not all roads can be fixed simultaneously.