The people of Toru-Apelebiri and Toru-Angiama Ijaw communities in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State have lamented the difficulty they faced over the abandoned Patani-Uduophori road.
When visited, the area, it was observed that the road which links the communities to Bomadi had been abandoned years ago, as weeds already covered other parts of the road where the stone base stopped.
The CDC Chairman of Toru-Apelebiri, Chief Dafeta Thursday, noted that the people, especially, of Toru-Angiama community, passed through Bayelsa State to access their community because of the abandoned Patani-Uduophori road.
He said, “The road from Patani to Uduophori has been abandoned since 2015, and to date, no work has been done on the road.
“They do part of the road from Patani covering Agoloma, but only stone based the road before Toru-Apelebiri and stopped, from Toru-Angiama down cannot be accessed.
“So, for the people to go to the community, they must pass through Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state to access Patani in Delta State.’
“Over the years, the road linking Patani to the communities has been very poor. From Uduophori to Patani, you must pass through Ughelli North to access Patani as well.
“If Toru-Angiama people want to come to Patani, they cross to Bayelsa State before they access Patani, which is in Delta State, imagine that journey!”
He appealed to the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene and do something meaningful concerning the road network in Patani and its communities.
Also, an indigene of the affected community, Mr Freeborn Nduku, said that the road was bulldozed when he was about three years old, but now he is 52 years old, nothing has been done on the road.
He added, “This road was bulldozed when I was not up to three years old, and now I am 52 years old, yet nothing has been done. It’s still earth road.
“We are predominantly farmers; farming palm oil, fishing, plantain and others, our people usually find it very difficult to transport the farm produce to market, especially our headquarters in Patani Local Government because of the access road.
“During the rainy season, the road will be cut deeply, and through self-help from the community, we would sand fill it during the dry season to enable motorcycle or bicycle pass through.
“Our people are dying even in child labour because of the access road to get to Patani General Hospital. As we speak to you now, the health centre in Toru-Apelebiri has been overgrown by weeds. So, our women usually engaged in local delivery.”
He said that the youths in the communities have vowed not to participate in subsequent elections since there is no presence of government in the communities.
When contacted on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Mr Reuben Izeze, confirmed that the road was awarded in 2015.
He said, “Phase 1 of the road project was awarded in 2015.
“It is presently being investigated to ascertain the current financial implications.
