Rumuolumeni Road: RSG Assures Community

The Rivers State Government has assured the people of
Rumuolumeni Communuty of palliative measures to address the poor condition of
roads as it directed the company handling the road contract, Monia Construction
Company Limited (MCC) to create access road for people to use pending when
major work would begin.

The state Commissioner for Works, Hon. Victor Giadom gave
the directive Monday, when he visited the area following blockage of the road
by the community in protest of the poor condition of the road.

He pleaded with the people of the area to remain calm and
remove the barricades as the state government is determined to rehabilitate the
road.

It would be recalled that, in protest to the poor situation
of the road, Rumuolumeni youths blocked the road Monday morning, obstructing
commuters access through the road.

The traditional ruler of the area, Eze Ndubueze Wobo Olumeni
lamented that poor condition of the road had caused the people regrettable
hardship, as according to him, people are trapped on the road for hours.

The traditional ruler, noted that neither the government nor
the companies operating in the area were doing enough to ensure that the road
condition improves.

He particularly stated that in spite of the presence of
numerous companies operating in the area, the companies have continued to shun
their social responsibilities to the people.

Investigation by The Tide showed that the youth have opened
up the blockage. It would be recalled that staff and students of the Ignatius
Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, company workers and members of the
public abandoned their vehicles on the said Monday and trekked to their offices
and various destination.

The Tide recalls that the said Rumuolumeni road was
contracted out few months ago along with the Igwuruta Road in Ikwerre Local
Government Area but apparently due to the heavy rains, the contractors could
not start major work on the two roads.

A staff of one of the oil companies in the area, Mr Clement
Agbam in an interview yesterday, called on MCC to commence serious work on the
road with the setting in of the dry season to save the people, who he said, had
suffered for years as a result of the poor condition of the road.

“MCC does not need to wait till the next rainy season. Let
serious work begin,” he pleaded.

Chris Oluoh