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Imo communities lament poor state of rural roads, call for government action

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1 month ago

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Some Communities in the 27 Local Council Areas of Imo State have lamented the poor state of roads in their respective areas and called on the State Government to take adequate measures to address the issue before they are cut off from the state.

They noted that, although the State Government is trying in road construction within the capital territory, much attention need to be given to rural roads which they said have become death traps for the people using them.

Speaking with our correspondent, a Community Head from one of the villages in Owerri West LGA, Nze Marcel Osundu, narrated that virtually all the roads in the Council area are in deplorable condition worsened by the rainy season.

He hinted that plying the roads is like embarking on a journey of death owing to serious accidents on them, even as road users unintentionally engage in violating traffic rules while trying to avoid major bad spots.

“Without mincing words, many roads in Owerri West Local Government Area and across other LGAs in Imo State remain in deplorable condition.

“While the Executive Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has made commendable strides in infrastructural development under his Shared Prosperity Administration, it is also essential that more visible efforts be directed toward rehabilitating rural roads across the State.”he said.

Mr Desmond Aririguzo, who resides in Umuguma, the Headquaters of Owerri West LGA, informed that lack of a proper access route from Owerri town to Umuguma is unbelievable and worrisome as the distance from the community to the State capital city is just a stone throw.

He lamented that businesses and other social engagements have been paralyzed owning to the bad nature of the roads.

Aririguzo added that the situation is turning to a point where it can no longer be overlooked, observing that it is the common man that bears the brunt of the whole thing.

“When you go to a shop to buy certain items you find out that the price of what you bought yesterday has been topped when you try to ask, shop owners will be quick to tell you that it because of the cost of transportation.

“The Owerri-World Bank-Umuguma Road, for instance, is particularly in an appalling state, despite being only five-minute drive from Government House, Owerri.

Thousands of residents of the state who live and conduct their daily activities along this axis endure significant hardship as a result of bad roads “he further lamented.

A provision shop owner, Lady Ihuoma Ekwueme told our correspondent that roads leading to rural areas are very bad and pose a great danger to road users who ply them on a daily basis.

She said that after coming to the city to buy goods, conveying them home becomes a tall task.

Lady Ekwueme said you must engage in strong bargain with commercial drivers before you will be able to convince them to transport your goods home under high price.

“So, in return we will add the transportation fare to the items to sustain our business.’she said.

Mr Moses Adielechi, a commercial farmer from Obitti in Ohaji- Egbema LGA of the State, cried out that perishable agricultural products are wasting away in the rural areas because of lack of means to convey them to the city.

He narrated that some buyers who managed to come over to purchase them virtually take them at a very cheaper price as farmers are willing to give them away to avoid wastage.

Adielechi, maintained that the only way Government can help farmers is by creating access roads that can enable them convey their farm produce to the potential buyers.

“Imo State Government is indeed working, but the urgency of rehabilitating and constructing major roads linking rural communities cannot be overlooked to the detriment of rural dwellers.he said.

The farmer, added that upgrading rural roads across the 27 LGAs would not only ease transportation but also stimulate economic growth and strengthen the transport sector.

The residents urged the Governor to prioritize and accelerate the rehabilitation of vital rural road networks to foster sustainable development and improve the quality of the roads.

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Lagos: Tears, chaos as bulldozers storm Oworonshoki at midnight, demolish more buildings

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9 hours ago

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October 26, 2025

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Residents of the Ojulari community in Oworonshoki, Lagos, have raised fresh alarm after demolition teams reportedly returned late Saturday night to pull down more houses in the area.

It was gathered that the operation continued into the early hours of Sunday despite widespread protests and resistance.

Eyewitnesses told reporters on Sunday morning that at least two bulldozers were deployed for the exercise, accompanied by a large number of police officers.

According to residents, over 50 armed policemen fired teargas through the night to disperse those attempting to resist the demolition. They claimed the operation had not ceased as of early Sunday.

“We didn’t sleep at all. They came back in the night after we stopped them in the morning. Even now, Sunday morning, the demolition is still ongoing,” one resident, Olanrewaju Segun said.

“More than 50 police officers were shooting teargas at people protesting as they pulled down our homes. Many don’t know where to go. This is a grave injustice.”

Earlier on Saturday, residents had successfully blocked an initial attempt to demolish homes in the Udi Araba area, a densely populated section overlooking the Lagos Lagoon.

“They started demolishing without marking any building. We quickly mobilised and stopped them, and that was how they left in the morning. But we didn’t know they would return at midnight,” another resident said.

Some residents have accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu, of supporting the demolition to reclaim waterfront lands allegedly meant for private development.

However, the monarch has denied any involvement, stating that he too had previously suffered losses from a similar government-led exercise.

“I was also a victim when I unknowingly built on land that had been acquired by the government. I have no hand in any demolition,” he said.

The Baale of Oworonshoki, Chief Olorunwa Luwa, also condemned the ongoing exercise, insisting it was not sanctioned by any government authority.

“If this were a government-approved operation, it wouldn’t happen at midnight or 3 a.m. People with genuine property documents are losing their homes in this lawless exercise,” he said.

As of Sunday morning, residents said the demolitions were still ongoing, leaving scores of families homeless and in shock over what they described as “a coordinated night assault” on their community.

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‘Lagos Govt Property Demolition Was Not Authorized By Any Court’ – Falana

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9 hours ago

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October 26, 2025

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has stated that no court authorised the Lagos State government’s demolition exercise.

It was recalls that Justice Adegboyega Balogun of the Lagos State High Court issued an interim order stopping further demolition of properties in parts of Oworonsoki, after complaints by affected residents who denied receiving any compensation.

Justice Balogun granted a restraining order against the respondents and their agents or contractors, prohibiting further demolitions or the creation of third-party interests over properties located on Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Street within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Area (CDA).

In a statement on Sunday, Falana alleged that the Lagos State Government demolished no fewer than 100 properties in Oworonsoki despite a court restraining order.

According to Falana, he demolition exercise carried out in the dead of the night has led many families to be displaced.

The statement read, “In flagrant breach and contempt of the subsisting court order and upon the service of the court order on them, the defendants mobilised over 50 armed policemen and thugs who fired teargas throughout the night to disperse those protesting the demolition and proceeded to commence a fresh demolition.

“The demolition, which was carried out in the dead of the night, has led to the destruction of not less than 100 properties, with many families displaced. The action of the demolition squad was not authorised by any court.

“The action of the demolished squad is a sad reminder of the aggravated contempt committed by the Lagos State Government, 39 years ago, in the celebrated case of The Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu & Anor. (1986) 2 NWLR (PT 18) 621, where the Supreme Court set a precedent against disregard for due process and the rule of law.

Notwithstanding that the country was then under a military junta, the Supreme Court deprecated the action of the Lagos State Government in defying a court order and resorting to self-help.”

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Resident Doctors To Begin Indefinite Strike November 1

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10 hours ago

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October 26, 2025

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The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to commence an indefinite nationwide strike from November 1, 2025.

It was reports that the decision followed a five-hour meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday.

In a statement on Sunday, NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, said the action became inevitable after the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government over unresolved demands.

The association is demanding a 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), full implementation of new allowances proposed since July 2022, immediate recruitment of clinical staff, and removal of bottlenecks hindering the replacement of exiting doctors.

“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for a successful execution of this action,” the statement partly read.

Suleiman explained that the National Officers Committee (NOC) has been mandated to ensure full compliance across all centres.

He added that centre presidents and general secretaries have been directed to convene emergency congress meetings to brief members on the resolutions.

The NARD president also accused some actors within and outside government of plotting against doctors.

He said, “We are aware of evil and exploitative plans against resident doctors, and the union will collectively resist such moves.”

Suleiman urged resident doctors to use the next few days to properly hand over patients, engage community and religious leaders, and sensitise the public ahead of the strike.

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