From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Erosion has washed away the only major road linking Ogga Community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi state to other neighbouring villages following a heavy down pour in the area on Monday.
Residents of the community as a result of the disaster, have cried out to the local, state and federal governments for immediate help.
Speaking on the development, the National President, Ogga Development Union (OPU), Bamidele Olure, also appealed to public spirited individuals as well as politicians to come to their rescue.
He said the timely assistance would go along way in repairing the cut off road “so that life in our community can return to normalcy.”
He recalled that the ancient community had, through ages, been involved in building its own projects such as Primary Health Centre, The Ogga-Ogbom Grammar School, The Primary School, The Police Post among other Projects, through community efforts.
Olure said the union cried out for help because the community had come to terms with the fact that, successive governments had treated the road with reckless abandonment and no possible solution at sight from both the State and the local government council.
He said Ogga had also known the imperative and strategic importance of the road, hence, it had from time to time been maintaining not only the road but also all other roads connecting the community with the outside world.
The national president said: “The construction of the bridge linking Ogbe with Ogga is still fresh in our memory.
“On the now disused road, the community has been involved in regular grading and clearing of the drainage. The Afa bridge besides the First ECWA Church near the scene of the current gully erosion linking Igboro with Oke-Odo, was constructed by the community through self help.
“The current fate that befell the road occurred was without notice because of the torrential rain that fell for days unabated.
“The Community in its characteristic manner would have loved to commence the process of putting the road back to shape, but given the present financial position of the Community Development Association- The Ogga Progressive Union (O.P.U), the repairs have become practically impossible.
‘The O.P.U. about two months ago, just spent over N2 million to provide sanitizers, running water, water tanks, soap, face masks and palliatives to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the community.
” To put this swept away road back to shape now has become a task that is presently above the capacity of the community.
“It is imperative to state that without putting the road back to use, the socio- economic lives of the inhabitants of the community and other adjoining communities like Omi, Ogbom, Jege linking the Oke-Oyi Division of Yagba East Local Government Area will be completely grounded!\
“The safety and security of lives and property of the people is currently being put into jeopardy because access to points of security breaches and threats to lives and property, as was the case during last year’s Fulani Herdsmen’s attack on the community, is already being threatened.
Another major challenge the damaged road has caused the community is that, access to health facilities in Odo-Ere and/ or Egbe has become practically impossible. God forbid, any case of health emergency now can only be left to God to handle due to the damaged road.
“Agriculture and farming, pottery making and other economic and social activities in the community have been totally paralyzed due to the condition of the road.
