September 7, (THEWILL) – Apparently, when construction works commenced on the dilapidated Nedeke old road by the present administration of Sen. Hope Uzodimma, people of the area including traders, whose shops are located along that axis, as well as motorists, were excited.
THEWILL recalls that the road had remained in a state of disrepair for years, even before the Shared Prosperity government came on board three years ago.
Meanwhile, a trader, who resides within Old Nekede road, has expressed gratitude to the Governor Hope Uzodimma for having started reconstruction work on the road of which he said, would enhance free movement and, however, urged him to expedite action on the rehabilitation work.
“You can see we are doing no businesses. Here is now a closed area. From the bridge, down to Number 3, the road is blocked. According to the Contractor, because of site hazards, he closed the road. I am finding it hard to make even Two Thousand (N2,000) daily. My neighbours are facing same challenges.”
The shop owner, who declined introducing himself for security reasons, explained that their businesses are shutting down, saying customers no longer have access to their shops because of the blockages.
He expressed gratitude to the governor for starting the rehabilitation of the road, which he said, had been abandoned for years by the past governors of the State, and therefore, appealed to him to speed up the road repair.
Also recounting his ordeal, A businessman, Mr Simon Duru, who sells cement, narrated how burglars broke into his shop and carted away goods and other valuable items.
Obi, who disclosed that he just got the shop in July 2023, explained that hoodlums scaled through the back fence and gained entrance via the ceiling, which they vandalised before their successful entry and looted his Motor battery, Window protector, Shovels, Trowels, Mold and Wheelbarrows.
“As I speak, they have started removing the roof on this building. This is the challenge I’m facing here. Government should chase away these Hausa boys from this area. They are ones doing these things”, Duru alleged.
A member of Eze’s cabinet of Umuejechi community, Owerri West Local Government Area, Chief Mike Nwachukwu, who was forced to speak to the Press, after all efforts made to reach the traditional ruler proved abortive, described it as stubbornness that the northerners that were asked to leave the area have returned back to their base.
A middle-aged lady, who spotted when Duru was fielding questions from the media, on Friday, also narrated to the medium how she was nearly raped by one of the Hausa boys along the road if not the intervention of an Imo state bus driver and passengers that rescued her.
