By Osy Ejiofor.
Uzo-uwani, alphabetically is the last Local Government Area in Enugu State. The irony behind this placement is that it has affected virtually every aspect of her growth and economic development. The most horrendous issue is that Uzo-uwani is indisputably the food basket of Enugu State. The people of this local government are primarily farmers producing and exporting rice in large quantities, garden egg, yam, pepper, okro, garri and palm oil across the states of the federation.
It is needless to naysay the economic relevance of Uzo-uwani and her people. That would amount to injustice and mans inhumanity against another.Uzo-uwani people live in nucleated settlements, in an organised communal cohabitation. Due largely to this, the people here have linking roads that connect to the state-built roads through which they walk to the market to sell their farm products. These roads were once smoothly traveled on by cars but one can hardly walk on them these days especially now that we are in rainy season. Case study is the road leading from Asaba to Igga and Ojor communities. This road as I pen this is in abysmal state. It is muddy, eroded and messed up with gullies.
Collapsed storage tank at Adani Health Centre Gully at Asaba-Igga road
Photo Credit: Balsam
Away from Asaba, moving up to Nsukka-Onitsha Expressway are about four collapsed high-tension electric poles by a probable wind storm, shunting the beneficiaries from enjoying electricity. At Ogurugu Road Adani is located the communitys Health Centre. There in the compound is a collapsed storage tank of the bore-hole built by the government. People of this community enjoyed this water project when it was functional but their joys have been cut short by the stormy wind that pulled down the tank.
Collapsed poles
There are lots of other governments infrastructures across the state in deplorable conditions due to lack of proper maintenance and management, abuse, and neglect. The essence of this essay is to awaken our conscience for the onus of proper use and management of these infrastructures are on the shoulders of all and sundry. It wishes also to draw the attention of relevant and concerned government agencies on the need for urgent repair and rehabilitation of the available government infrastructure in Uzo-uwani.
Osy Ejiofor writes from Enugu, Nigeria. You can reach him on fredejiofor@gmail.com
