People of Umuawulu community in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State have raised the alarm over the near collapse of the bridge leading to the permanent orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the area.
Scores of the residents protested alleged government neglect of the area, lamenting that the bridge, known as Hana Bridge had caved following abandonedment by successive governments.
They gave Governor Willie Obiano one month to address their grievances.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Osita Obi disclosed that the bridge linked their community with no fewer than 10 others in Anambra, describing it as the shortest route to get to Imo, Rivers and Abia states.
He said, “This road leads to the NYSC orientation camp, Amaokpala, Agulu, Nanka, Ekwulobia, Oko, Ajali and Ufuma as well as Imo, Abia, and Rivers states.
“The most important thing is the issue of the NYSC, whose orientation camp is just a few metres away from here. Are they bringing the corps members to come and die here?
“We’re demanding that urgent action be taken to save the lives of the corps members and the entire community.”
Expressing surprise that a community located within the Awka capital territory could be so neglected, Obi warned that further delay would compel the residents to close the bridge entirely.
He added, “To further show you how this government hates us, it omitted our name on a signage indicating communities around this place.
“But we have resolved that if we don’t see any change from the government, we’ll mobilise the entire community to close this bridge to traffic until the government does something about it.
“The governor visited here when it collapsed two years ago. I’m reminding him in case he has forgotten. Let him do something urgent about the bridge.”
Reacting, Commissioner for Works, Marcel Ifediora, confirmed government’s knowledge of the state of the bridge, assuring that arrangements had been concluded to fix it.
