By Our Reporter
Residents of Ebu Community in Oshimili North Local Government Area have raised fresh concerns over what they described as decades of abandonment, worsening erosion menace, and the deplorable state of roads linking the agrarian community to neighbouring towns and the rest of the state.
The community, known for its rich agricultural activities and food production, lamented that the absence of accessible roads has continued to isolate the town economically and socially, while successive governments allegedly failed to address the situation despite repeated promises.
According to community sources, the coming rainy season has heightened fears among residents as erosion continues to ravage major access roads, threatening lives, farmlands, and economic activities within the area.
The people noted that the road leading to the palace and other strategic parts of the community has become almost impassable, making movement difficult for residents, farmers, traders, and visitors.
They further decried the deteriorating condition of the Ebu–Ezi-Ukala road, described as the only major inter-link road connecting Ebu to neighbouring communities and serving as a critical economic route for the people.
Residents said the road has remained abandoned for years and is no longer motorable, thereby crippling commercial activities and worsening the hardship faced by farmers who depend on transporting agricultural produce to nearby markets.
Community leaders lamented that Ebu, despite being regarded as one of the food baskets of Delta North, has suffered neglect for over three decades without a single functional internal road in the town.
According to them, the situation has led to deep isolation, collapsed local economic activities, and severe logistical challenges that continue to affect the livelihood of the people.
They also expressed concern over the condition of the federal road linking the axis to Abuja, alleging that heavy-duty vehicles have further damaged the road, thereby posing serious risks to motorists and residents.
The community described the development as painful and unacceptable, stressing that Ebu appears to have been completely removed from the development map of the state.
The people therefore appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to urgently intervene by declaring a state of emergency on the development of Ebu Community.
They called on the state government to immediately commence reconstruction of major access roads, erosion control projects, and other critical infrastructure needed to reconnect the community with the rest of the state.
According to the residents, the continued neglect of Ebu Community has subjected the people to untold hardship and suffering for decades, adding that urgent government intervention remains the only hope of saving the community from total collapse.