Residents of Adonte community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the state government to the worsening condition of the Adonte road.
The protest, led by the Chairman of the Adonte Development Union (ADU), Asaba branch, Mr Obiegogo Friday, called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently intervene and rehabilitate the road, which the community described as a major threat to socio-economic activities.
Speaking during the protest, Mr Friday said Adonte, with an estimated population of over 20,000 registered voters, has consistently supported successive governments since the return to democracy in 1999 but has remained neglected in terms of infrastructure, particularly road development.
He explained that Adonte is strategically located at the centre of about 15 communities in Aniocha South and serves as a major link to towns such as Ogwashi-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, Nsukwa, Ejeme-Aniogor, Abah-Unor and Issele-Uku. Despite this, he said access to the community becomes extremely difficult, especially during the rainy season, due to the poor state of the road.
According to him, the bad road has crippled agricultural activities in the area, noting that Adonte was once regarded as the food basket of the local government and Delta State.
He added that farmers are now forced to sell their produce at very low prices because they cannot transport goods to major markets.
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The President General of Adonte Development Union, ADU, Mr. Okofu Collins, his Secretary, Mr Murray Okonta who also spoke , lamented that the road has become impassable during the rainy season, making it difficult for indigenes living in urban centres to visit home, while security concerns have further worsened the situation.
They disclosed that journeys which previously took a short time now last between five and seven hours, especially when accessing the community through Abah-Unor.
The protesters appealed to the Delta State Government to respond to the cries of the community by reconstructing the Adonte road, stressing that improved road infrastructure would enhance economic growth, ease movement and improve the overall well-being of residents.
