As Deltans continue to count their loses following the Saturday heavy down pour that destroyed properties worth several millions of naira, landlords and residents of camp 74 community, Delta state have embarked on rescue mission of their ravaged roads.
The landlord and residents who were seen struggling with the patching up of their roads shattered by heavy erosion occasioned by the over four hours downpour, accused governor Ifeanyi Okowa of abandoning them since inception of office.
Camp 74 Community is in Oshimili South local government area of Delta State, a minute drive from the Government House, by Ibori Golf Club whose fence was also shattered by the heavy down pour.
The rain which started as early as 6:30am ended about 11:30am, leaving the landlords, tenants in the area with shocks as the erosion separated the roads into two making the roads to be impassable by motorists and other road users in the areas.
A landlord in the area who lamented the situation narrated that the rain caused serious damage on the roads which started from the ‘Y Junction’ leading to the road which connects to Central Hospital and Akpo Junction in Okpanam road, adding that “the Fish Farm Cluster which the governor Okowa claimed is of great priority to him because of the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneur Programme (YAGEP) and the one that leads to the borrow bit were ruined by the rain.”
According to the landlord who simply identified himself as Duke noted that apart from the untold damages the rain left on the roads, fences of houses and drainages also gave way to the rain, new gullies at various locations were formed in addition to the existing ones while other fences whose bases have been exposed are currently a threat to lives.
“The wrecked roads have no other link with which commuters and other road users can divert through particularly the Fish Farm Cluster whose operators are already counting their loses as the flood watched away their fishes and the one that leads to the borrow bit. Several efforts put by other of my co-landlords to end the suffering has proved abortive as any effort put on the roads yield no positive result.
“Uncountable numbers of cars belonging to landlords, tenants and sachet water companies have been damaged as they have continually sank on the road that leads to the borrow bit. As you can see, this is how we work each time it rain to see that we are able to use the road. We have also called the attention of government to it but we have not heard from them.” Duke lamented.
Also speaking, another landlord who identified himself as Okoro said, “I don’t know if we are not part of the state because I have personally gone to the Ministry of Works and I have spoken with the permanent secretary in the ministry because I did not meet the commissioner and I was assured of palliative measures on the road but till now nothing is forthcoming.”
It was gathered that the landlords who have resorted to self-help in ensuring that the roads does not caved in to further torrential rain also boycotted Sunday Service of 23rd July to continue work on the roads.
They accused the Okowa-led government of two years of insensitivity to the plights of Deltans, describing Okowa as a monumental failure and disappointment in the way he governs the state.
At the damaged Government House fence before Ibori Golf Club resulting from the down pour, HardReporters Correspondent who visited the scene, reports that four Hilux Vans of fierce looking mobile policemen were deployed to the affected portion of the fence to stop anyone suspected to be taking pictures of the broken walls.
Over 5, 000 blocks, a trip of sand, roofing sheets and bamboos were used to block the destroyed part from public view while workmen have been deployed to the site, working assiduously to mend the government house fence under the supervision of mobile policemen and suspected government functionaries in disguise.
Addressing Journalists Wednesday at government house, the state commissioner for information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said work on Camp 74 Asaba and other areas affected by the flood will receive due attention as soon as the rains eases off.
