The Amachai Quarters in Okpanam, Oshimili North LGA of Delta, has sent a save-our-soul appeal to the government for urgent intervention over deploralbe roads and erosion menace.

The residents of the area, under the aegis of the Amachai Community Landlords Association, took their concerns to the Government House in Asaba in a peaceful protest on Thursday.

According to them, years of self-help efforts have failed to contain the damage caused by persistent rainfall and perennial flooding.

The chairman of the association, Chukwunenye Okonkwo, said the residents had repeatedly repaired sections of the main road to the area with stones and other materials.

Mr Okonkwo, however, regretted that heavy rains have continued to wash away the repairs, leaving the road in a deplorable condition and beyond the community’s capacity to fix. He described erosion as the residents’ most pressing challenge, warning that a rapidly expanding gully now threatened lives, residential homes and other structures.

He said that the erosion channel carries floodwaters from Okpanam and the surrounding areas, thereby worsening environmental degradation.

While commending Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the developmental projects across the state, the residents urged the government to quickly intervene before the situation escalates.

Responding to the protesters’ appeal, the director of protocol at the Government House, Sunday Onoriode, assured them that their petition would be delivered to the governor. He assured the protesters that their requests would receive prompt consideration and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to people-centred governance.

Mr Onoriode also cautioned against actions that could disrupt the protest’s peaceful nature, emphasising the need for orderly engagement. 

(NAN)