As the government and people of Imo State mark the 1000th day in office of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the people of Ehime in Mbano Local Government have called on Ohakim to repair roads and build hospitals in the town. This, if done, would improve the quality of life of the indigenes and boost economic activities in the town.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent in Lagos at the weekend, the President-General of the Umuoma Nzerem Progressive Union, Lagos branch, Mr. Okechukwu Anoruo, said the town, which comprises seven villages, has suffered inadequate infrastructure and facilities for a long time. å

According to him, none of the three roads in the town has been tarred. He described Ehime as an agricultural town that produces a lot of food and said that the bad state of the roads in the town makes it difficult for farmers in the area to move their agricultural produce to urban centres where they could be sold. He said this has contributed to impoverish indigenes of the town.

Anoruo, who is also chairman of Yaba Traders' Association, Lagos, said the town has suffered a dearth infrastructure for long, and appealed to the sitting governor to come to the rescue of the indigenes of the town, who, he said, have been contributing to the development of Imo State.

Anoruo said the most pressing need of the town is the tarring of the roads in the town. According to him, all three roads that lead into the town are so bad that it is difficult for vehicles to ply them. He said the issue of their accessibility was brought to the fore recently when the governor came to the town on a visit. According to him, during the visit, the vehicles in his convoy had problems traversing the town. The governor had to seek alternative route, he added.

The Nzerem Progressive Union official said the contract for the rehabilitation of the roads has been awarded to a member of the House of Representatives, who has yet to mobilise men and equipment to site, but went about telling people that he is on the verge of finishing the job. He called on the governor to impress it on the contractor to execute the contract before the beginning of the rainy season.

Anoruo also said that local government in the area has done nothing to show for the huge sums it gets from the federation account and internally generated revenue on a monthly basis. According to him, all the secondary and primary schools in the town are dilapidated and begging for repair. He pointed out that the roofs of the schools were leaking and the walls cracked, adding that the only health institution in the town is a maternity centre, which he said is unable to adequately serve the needs of the indigenes. He said many people, including pregnant women, lose their lives before they could get to standard hospitals for proper medical attention.

He further appealed to Ohakim to come to the aid of the indigenes by giving them infrastructure like roads, schools and hospitals. He said the governor, being an indigene of the town, should know the problems of the town and provide solution to them.