Not comfortable with the deplorable condition of their community road and the lack of critical infrastructure in the area, residents of Orhuwhorun community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have staged a peaceful protest.
The protesters, mostly women, marched through the community carrying placards with inscriptions such as, “Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Remember Orhuwhorun-Owhrode,” “Fix the Orhuwhorun–Owhrode Access Road,” “The Orhuwhorun–Owhrode Road is Not Motorable,” and “Orhuwhorun–Owhrode Needs Government Attention.”
They called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently intervene in the poor state of the road, which, according to them, has subjected residents to severe hardship, increased transportation costs, and hindered economic and social activities within the surrounding communities.
Speaking during the protest, a High Chief from the community, Oghale Ighodakpo, emphasized that the protest was aimed solely at drawing the government’s attention to the plight of residents.
He said the prolonged neglect of the Orhuwhorun–Owhrode Road has continued to inflict economic hardship on residents, traders and businesses operating within the area and neighbouring communities.
Ighodakpo urged the state government to prioritise the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the road, describing it as critical to the socio-economic development of the area.
The Vice Chairman of Orhuwhorun Community, Chief Cyril Onojeghuo, said the road has become a major obstacle to commerce and daily life, affecting traders, workers, students and motorists who depend on it for transportation.
The women leader in the community, Mrs Victoria Ashakpoke, described the condition of the road as unbearable, noting that residents pay exorbitant transport fares because many commercial drivers avoid the route due to its swampy and dilapidated condition.
According to her, the road serves as a critical link between Orhuwhorun, Owhrode and other surrounding communities, but years of neglect have made movement difficult for residents.
“The daily challenges we face in accessing neighbouring communities are painful. Due to the poor state of the road, we pay double transportation fares because no commercial transporter is willing to pass through the swampy road. Our economic activities, essential services and the overall well-being of our people are being affected,” she stated.
