Mgbuoshimini-Rumueme: Excitement, Fears Over New Roads Construction

Mgbuoshimini community in Rumueme Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State is undergoing huge urban renewal.
The ancient community which is part of Rumueme Kingdom has in the past six months witnessed various development projects. Apart from hosting the new Slaughter house, the area is now being transformed to fit into a metropolitan centre.
During a survey of the area by Metro Tide, not fewer than six internal roads in the community are being constructed and reconstructed.
As one gets to the junction that forks into Mgbuoshimini- Oroakwo and Mgbuoshimini-Oroazi, the new face of the community becomes visible with the relocation of the old market that sat at the centre of the road. However, some traces of the old market still beckon with few market women displaying their wares over fear of the taskforce on street trading and parking.
The Tide Metro learnt that the old market has now been moved to the waterside close to the new Slaughter site at Ahiamakara or fish market.
Nonetheless, the new face of the community is laced with new roads being constructed at Okochi Street, Chief Benson Street, New School Road and Deeper Life Street terminating at Chief Minikwu Street, which shares boundary with the Federal Housing Estate.
This is not the first time effort is being made to transform the area that hosts multinational, Nigeria    Agip Oil Company, as various attempts have been botched as contractors abandoned sites few months after building drains.
This might have compelled the Governor, Chief  Nyesom Wike, who during his last visit to the area two years ago, promised that he will construct new roads and give the community a facelift.
To give force to the governor’s promise, many buildings were earmarked for demolition since last year, as a lot of the residential houses were haphazardly constructed.
The new developed area did not have a master plan, hence, most of the houses encroached on the right of way and had to be pulled down for the new infrastructure.
Chief Prince Wachuku, whose fence was pulled down along Minikwu Street described the situation as, “one of the cost of development “.
He said, “ It is a social service government is giving us and that is why we support the new development.”
The royal father who is a landlord lauded the Wike government for the road project, saying “it will reduce flooding and besides, our vehicles will not suffer frequent breakdown due to bad roads.”
In addition to that, Chief Wachuku stated that the new roads will transform the area, “rents will go up and business will grow.”
His view was supported by another resident at Chief Benson Street, Miriam Daniel, who said, “we are happy because it is a good thing”.
She, however, lamented that the rain on Wednesday led to flooding since most of the drains were under construction and blocked.
An elderly woman, who gave her name as “Grandma” in Chief Benson Street told  The Metro Tide that a small lad and one of her neighbour’s son fell into the new drain being constructed, “they need to fasten the pace of work,” she urged the contractor.
Benson Ukachukwu also lamented the flooding caused by blocked drains”. We are yet to see any serious work done since they demolished the houses last Monday.”
Mrs Joy Ekalaso, who owns a restaurant in Chief Benson Street narrated how her neighbours helped her to save her things when the street got flooded on Wednesday.
She said, “if not for the rain, I do not have any problem with the project. But if the contractors delay it, then, we are in trouble, because the drains are blocked.”
Mrs Joy Wachuku who has a church and a ministry at Minikwu Street said her church hall was flooded after the rains last Wednesday.
Her fear is that the rainy season is around the corner,” we all know that Minikwu Street is flood-prone and with most of the drains blocked, it will be worse if the project is delayed.”
It was learnt that the governor gave the contractor 150 days to deliver on the project, but with the look of things, they might not beat the target date.
An engineer and resident at Minikwu Street, Benneth Chike told The Metro Tide that since his shop was pulled down a week ago, he has not opened for business.
Engr Chike runs a POS outlet together with his construction firm and has been shut down since last Friday the bulldozers tore through Deeper Life and adjoining streets to pave way for the new road.
In the view of Chike, most of the landlords were poorly compensated, thus, making it difficult to repair and adjust their buildings.
An indigene of the community, William Obinna assured that the project will be delivered at the stipulated time.
Said Obinna, “As far as I am concerned, the contractors are fast. 150 days are just about four months and so far, they have done one month. “
Obinna told The Tide Metro that the people were happy, “ many of us have to sacrifice our property so we can enjoy this new development. I shut down my shop since last week because of this road. And I believe that when it is finished, it will improve business”.

By: Kevin Nengia