A renowned engineer and illustrious son of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Chief Engr Rowland Ifeanyi Nwadike has expressed bitterness that communities in Ohaji clan do not have good roads, no electricity and no hospitals despite the fact that the area is one of the oil producing communities in the state.
Chief Engr Nwadike stated this in an interview with newsmen on the occasion of the annual stakeholders’ Town Hall meeting of oil producing communities (Imo Niger Delta Areas) with the theme “Benefits of oil and gas exploration in a peaceful environment” organized by Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Intelligence held last Thursday at McDons Skye Hotel and Resort, Portharcout Road, Owerri (former Ibari Ogwa)
He also expressed regrets that because of lack of good roads, infrastructure and hospitals in Ohaji/Egbema and other oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region, there had been loss of lives in the past through accidents resulting from bad roads, health issues due to lack of good hospitals in the area, adding that before people with emergency cases would be rushed to hospitals in the state capital, they die on the way because of bad roads.
The engineering expert recalled that a particular girl died during child birth because she had complications and before she could be brought to Owerri for medical attention, she died because the roads were not motorable.
“Our place, Ohaji is very peaceful. We are calling on the oil companies to look into the matter. Let them provide roads, electricity, water supply. Our place is very peaceful. Why some youths are really angry and engage in restiveness is because the oil companies would come and create problems among brothers. The worst among them is Sterling Global. They will come to people’s land and start operating without paying the landlord. There is a particular boy they arrested from Obitti Road. In Obitti Road now, they are operating there day and night. Government should help provide infrastructure in these communities to enhance the people’s standard of living, create jobs for the youths to prevent them from restiveness”, Chief Engr Nwadike emphasized.
He emphasized that the stakeholders’ meeting is an initiative to enhance peace in oil producing communities in Imo State and called on the people of the area to uphold peace and harmonious coexistence while their challenges are being looked into by the authorities.
