DEVELOPMENT
NDDC Moves to Construct Ọrọ-ibere Road, Tackle Erosion Menace
Indigenes of Ọrọ-ibere Autonomous Community in Ikwuano LGA, felt as people in a dreamland on Friday as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) flagged off emergency erosion control and construction of the community road.
The long abandoned 3.3 kilometres Iyalu-Iberenta-Ọrọ-Ibere Autonomous Community road, has over the years been used for political campaigns without receiving any serious attention.
Iberenta erosion site
Speaking at the flagoff ceremony at the palace of Eze Ijenwa in Iberenta, the Commissioner representing Abia State on the NDDC Board, Chief Dimgba Eruba promised that the project will not be abandoned halfway but will be completed.
Erosion site at Iyalu
Eruba noted that under President Bola Tinubu, the NDDC, as an interventionist agency, has been receiving the necessary support to execute projects, as against what it was in the past.
High Chief Dimgba Eruba
Abia State Representative at the Board of the NDDC
He assured that the contractor would deliver quality work and appealed to the community to support rather than sabotage his efforts.
He urged the benefiting communities to report any shoddy job by the contractor to the Abia State NDDC office at Okeikpe, Ukwa West LGA for proper action.
HRH Eze Stanley Ijenwa PhD
Traditional Ruler of Ọrọ-ibere Autonomous Community
Also speaking, the contractor handling the road project and CEO Worldwide Environmental Technology Ltd., Sir Ako Obioma disclosed that work at the 3.3km would commence in mid-October.
Sir Ako Obioma assured of delivering high quality job and solicited the support of Ọrọ-Ibere community stakeholders.
Sir. Ako Obioma
Contractor
In his remarks, the Traditional Ruler of Ọrọ-Ibere Autonomous Community, Eze Dr. Stanley Ijenwa, the President-General, Ọrọ-Ibere National Development Union, Dr. Green Nwaoha and the President-General of the Iberenta Development Union Federated, Bishop Ozuh Uchechi Prince, and Prince Ejike Pascal Atumah narrated the challenges they faced in plying the road.
They noted that they continue live in fear because of the terrible condition of the road and the erosion menace in the community.
They described the autonomous community as a food basket of Abia state, highlighting various kinds of farm produce cultivated in the area.
Ọrọ-ibere women at the event
The indigenes promised to provide the necessary support for the contractor to enable him deliver quality work for the people.
Some Ọrọ-ibere Stakeholders
In their reactions, the Chairlady of Iberenta Development Union Women’s Wing Mrs. Ann Ogbuehi and the Secretary of the Association, Mrs. Fortune Emeh as well as the Youth President, Engr. Don Onyegbula expressed their excitements over the flagging off of the road.
They said the road has been terrible and has been affecting them negatively in conveying their farm produce to markets and prayed God to bless the NDDC for coming to rescue the community.
Eze Ijenwa welcoming Chief Dimgba Eruba to his palace
The flag off ceremony attracted many dignitaries and stakeholders including the Deputy Mayor, Ikwuano LGA, Hon. Lucky Awuwa, Director in Charge of Abia State NDDC State Office, Dr. Anderson Ukeh, Chief Chinedu Kalu, Sir Sylvanus Madu, Mr. Lucky Mpama among many others.
