The youth wing of the Apex Ndoki group; Ndoki Union, known as Ndoki Union Youth Wing, has decried the deplorable state of roads within their communities and called for urgent measures to save the Akwete-Umuagbai bridge from eminent collapse.
The Ndoki Union Youth Wing who disclosed this recently in a communique noted that roads within Ndoki land are caused by long neglect by Federal and States Government despite their huge economic contributions to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The group revealed that Ndoki land accommodates over one hundred Oil and Gas Wells and the gigantic Afam i, ii, iii, iv, v and vii with no single presence of Federal Government project in the area, nor even a Hospital to cushion the effect of the hazardous emissions in their land.
They described the road as the only route that keeps them accessible to Ndoki villages for economic activities and resolve to stop forthwith, heavy duty trucks of over 15 tons from plying the bridge among other measures.
The communique further reads:
THE COMMUNIQUE REACHED AT THE MEETING OF COALITION OF ALL NDOKI YOUTH BASED ORGANIZATIONS ON FRIDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2022 AT AKWETE ANCIENT KINGDOM HALL
The meeting of ALL NDOKI YOUTH BASED ORGANIZATIONS held on Friday 7th October 2022 at AKWETE ANCIENT KINGDOM HALL.
The meeting had only one agenda deliberated upon which was: NEAR COLLAPSE OF AKWETE/UMUAGBAI BRIDGE CAUSED BY HEAVY TRUCKS PLYING ON IT AGAINST THE BUILDER’S SPECIFICATION. And after the discussion on the sole subject matter, conducted in the spot assessment of the near collapse brigade and roads within and leading to the head bridge. It was discovered that:
1. That all the roads within Ndoki land are in terrible state and needs urgent construction
2. That the bad state of the roads within Ndoki land are heavily caused by long neglect by the Federal and States Government
3. That despite Ndoki huge economic contributions to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the well over one hundred Oil and Gas Wells and the gigantic Afam i, ii,iii,iv, v and vii there is no single presence of Federal Government project within Ndoki land, not even a Hospital to cushion the effect of the hazardous emissions within our land.
4. That the ntugbu or Akwete Umuagbai bridge was constructed by the then adminstration of governor of old Imo state, Dr. Sam Mbakwe under the supervision of Late Dr Rowland Asobie, as such the bridge is over 44 years now.
5. That the builders of the bridge specified the maximum tonage of truck to ply on it which should not be more than fifteen (15) tons
6. That despite the clear specifications of the aged bridge, you have over 60-80 heavy duty trucks of 40 – 60 tons trucks are running on a daily bases
7. That If these 40 -60 ton trucks continue running on it for another month or so, the craters will widen, dislocate the end-columns and cause the bridge to give way. Leaving the people of NDOKI to our fate, no access road across Ndoki Rivers, Ndoki Abia and Ndoki in Akwa Ibom.
It is for these obvious reasons we agreed to preserve the only route that keeps us accessible to Ndoki villages and RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
1. That every road blocks collecting paltry sum from the Heavy duty trucks within Ndoki be immediately discontinued
2. That NOTICE be served on the truck drivers and their owners to stop forthwith from plying the Ntugbu bridge as it’s illegal for heavy duty truck of over 15 tons run on it.
3. That they have until Monday 31st October 2022 to return to their original route and stop further damage on the near collapsed bridge
4. That after monday 31st October 2022, any heavy duty truck above 15 tons found running on the bridge will be made to turn back
5. That all barricade will be installed at the both ends of the bridge and we have our task force watching over them
6. That all community Youth presidents are to set up task force to enforce the ban on more the 15 tons truck plying the near collapse ntugbu bridge
7. That the Resolution of the meeting be communicated to the Executive Chairman OYIGBO Local Government, Executive Chairman Ukwa East local Government, DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICERS OF UKWA EAST AND OYIGBO L. G. A respectively
