Residents of Kom Kom community in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State have raised concern over the dilapidated state of Kom Kom-Afam road.
The poor state of the road, our reporter learnt, has caused the residents untold hardship; forcing many of them going to Port Harcourt to pass through Abia State.
Many of the residents who could no longer cope with the poor state of the road relocated to Oyigbo urban community, while others have moved to Port Harcourt and Aba in Abia State.
The road is the only gateway to the gigantic Afam Power Station and a recently commissioned cassava processing plant .
A resident, ThankGod Eseh, said the poor state of the road had led to the collapse of business activities in the area.
He said. “The road has become a source of worry to many residents. The poor state of the road has affected business activities. Many of the residents have relocated and only those who cannot afford the cost of renting new apartments have continued to remain here.
“Commercial vehicles are no longer plying this route, and that has made life very difficult for us.”
Another resident, Ofoneme Uduak, said, “The state government seems to have forgotten the people of this community. During the flag off of Mbano Camp road in Oyigbo in 2017, Governor Nyesom Wike promised to award contract for the renovation of this road; from Oyigbo market junction to Afam. Since 2017, nothing has been done.
“Residents are at the receiving end and accidents do occur here on a daily basis. People are moving out from here on a daily basis. The crime rate has also increased because the road is too bad, making it difficult for security agencies to bring help.”
A teacher in one of the schools located in Obeama part of Oyigbo said she spent so much money to get to her school.
The teacher who refused to disclose her name said, “I spend as much as N500 on transport that used to cost me not more than N200 to go to school daily.
Niger Delta Trust recalls that commercial bus drivers that ply Aba/Port Harcourt/Oyigbo road, a couple of weeks ago, withdrew their buses in protest against the poor state of the road.
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