Residents flee Asaba community over worsening erosion menace

*Three feared killed, houses submerged

Residents of Area 74 Road Asaba the Delta state capital have fled their homes following worsening erosion menace in the area.

With three persons feared killed in the last two months and several houses submerged, the residents now taking refuge elsewhere. They have also called on the state government and the contractor handling the road project to ensure its completion.

Investigation revealed that the road currently in deplorable state portends danger for motorists including pedestrians who were trapped inside the potholes after the early morning rain on Wednesday.

Speaking to our reporter, a housewife, Mrs. Rosemary Eyinbor, whose car and children were rescued inside the potholes, said that the state government and the contractor handling the road project have been insensitive to their plight adding “we have been calling on the state government and the contractors before the coming of the rains to no avail, the road is totally deplorable and a death trap.”

Also, another resident of the area Mr. Martins Okon, said the erosion menace will continue to wreak havoc if urgent steps are not taken to provide solution to it, adding that many cars had in the last three day been trapped inside the gully holes. According to him; “This 74 road is very important link to the Asaba General Hospital, schools with large population of persons living in the area, we residents are suffering nowhere to stay.”

But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, however assured the residents of government’s commitment to fixing the deplorable road.

“We are aware of the deplorable condition of the road and the contractor handling it had been relieved of his duties for poor project execution, soon work will commence on the road to save lives,” he said.