The people of Abua in Abual/Odual Local Government Area and Ndele  community in  Emohua Local Government Area  of Rivers State, have commended the Governor Nyesom Wike administration for good and quality road networks in the areas.
Some of the opinion leaders who spoke with The Tide over the weekend expressed satisfaction with the road networks done by the state government, saying it has eased communication and boosted trade and commerce between Abua and Ndele communities.
A community leader from Ndele, David Ejiowhor,  noted that the import of  the massive road work done by Wike’s administration was not necessarily for  aesthetic value , but for  its impacts in opening rural communities to the metropolis where they could easily move their farm produces for higher sales.
A retired teacher, Mr Oye Amage,  noted  that  Wike’s governance style in terms of opening rural communities and containing  criminal activities  is exemplary  and value based, explaining that it is more meaningful and more result – oriented, sustainable than the fanciful rituals of youth and women empowerments.
“This is because roads connection of  rural ,areas, especially agrarian communities,  will stimulate  local economy, reduce rural poverty and ensure sustainable development”, he said.
Also speaking, a community leader in Abua, Chief Emmanuel Oghu, said the opening of rural communities with roads ,has reduceds poverty  and improved  the health of the people.
The community leader called on the governor to mobilize the contractors working on Abuo/Ndele link road back to site to enable them complete the construction of the Ndele -Abua/Odual Bridge which his administration initiated.
Oghu noted that  Ndele -Abua /Odual  Bridge is an important  road  that link more than 50 communities  in two local government areas, adding that the absence of  good roads hinders trade.
He said, “The non completion of the road has killed the local economy  in a food belt that produces food crops, fish  and brew local gin , exacerbated rural poverty  and led to heightened crime”,  adding that  it is because of the  bad road that  makes it difficult for policing that  had made that axis hot bed of  cult activities and kidnapping’’, they said.

By: Ike Wigodo.