THE People of Ofougbene in Iduwini Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State has appealed to Government at all levels including its developmental agencies for the electrification of the community.
Speaking to Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper, the leadership of the community disclosed that the town is lacking virtually everything that would have make life meaningful and easy for its indigenes while alleging that they have suffered untold neglect from the Government which have culminated to unspeakable level of hardship as they have been disconnected from all basic amenities that the Government and its agencies would have done to better the lots of the people.
Chief Evans Etimigba, Chairman of the community while reacting to the low level of development in the town particularly noted among many other challenges that Government at all levels including their developmental agencies should come to their aide especially in the area of electrification.
The Chairman maintained that the community has since had a Perkins 500 KVA generator donated to the community since 2013 by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), big enough to serve the community but could not put it to use due to the absence of electric polls, hence the call for electrification.
In his words ” I am using this medium to call on the State Government, the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), our representatives Hon. James E. Manager, member representing Delta South Senatorial district who doubles as a member, senate committee on Power and Energy, Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives and other relevant bodies to rescue us from this pathetic and baleful experience, apart from the NDDC plant, we have other plant as well but could not put it to use due to the absence of electrification, we shall forever be grateful if the Government comes to our rescue. This is, however not to say the light issue is the only problem but rather we are equally grappling with other multifaceted challenges that needs to be fixed as well.”
Chief Evans further added that the community is at the brink of facing erosion as the seawall built many years ago has been fractured, hence high tide from the river is uncontrollably rushing into the community, he also called on Government to provide a drinkable water to address the lingering water problem as they still rely on mysterious wells as their main source of drinkable water while noting that the only attempt by NDDC to provide water for the community has been greeted with abandonment. “We will so appreciate if they come back to complete the water project” he appeals.
A visit to the community by Gbaramatu Voice was an eyesore as the indigenes have been pressed and subjected into unhygienic living conditions that could be gravely hazardous to the human health.
The only maternity building that could have provided health facilities for members of the community has been abandoned and there is no health facility to render essential services within that line, hence the people have to rush patients to neighbouring Burutu General Hospital in case of emergencies which is so expensive as they contend with the economic realities of hiring boat to convey patients and all that follows. There have been reported cases where patients may not even get to Burutu before the unexpected happens. The life of the people living in the community is one of uncertainty.
They have a well-built Primary School with a standard staff quarters but only three teachers inclusive of the headmaster, thereby leading to a deteriorating primary education that have led to a mass relocation of students to Warri and Burutu in which the very survival of the school is at risk. What will happen in the future when there are no students to be admitted into the school due to insufficient teachers as every parent wants the best for their children?
The inhabitants of the community have become endangered species owing to the zero level of Government presence.
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Copyright 2016 GbaramatVoice Newspaper. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.gbaramatuvoicenews.com as the source.
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