Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area in Enugu State, Dr Eric Odo, on Thursday, vowed to address security challenges confronting parts of Igbo-Etiti council.
He ensured the people of the council area of his determination to speedily complete the ongoing 16.5 kilometres Umuoka–Nkporogwu-Ukehe–Ngele-Okwete–Ugwuogo-Nike Road in order to make communities in the council more accessible and secure.
Odo made this known when he received members of Agu Ukehe Autonomous community led by their Traditional Ruler, Igwe Emmanuel Aroh, in his office at the council’s secretariat in Ogbede.
He assured them that his administration would approve recruitment of more Neighborhood Watch for Agu Ukehe community.
The council boss said that he would liaise with the state government to also employ more Forest Guards for the council area.
According to him, when the Umuoka–Nkporogwu-Ukehe-Ngele-Okwete-Ugwuogo-Nike Road is completed, the local government will apply for the construction of a police post in Agu Ukehe community.
“We intend to partner with the state government to tar the road as soon as the earthwork is completed and install solar-powered lights along it to improve security as well.
“Although before now, I was unaware of these challenges, especially that of security confronting your community; however, be rest assured the council government would address them squarely,” he said.
On the sharing of palliatives, Odo hinted that Agu-Ukehe autonomous community would be given special consideration in the distribution of palliatives and agricultural inputs.
Earlier, Aroh urged the council boss to check insecurity and end the marginalisation the people of his community had suffered in the sharing of palliatives in the past.
The traditional ruler urged the council boss to look into the attitude of teachers posted to schools in his community, as many of them do not come to school regularly.
“This development has forced most of our children to go to school in the neighbouring Ugwuogo-Nike community,” he said.
Speaking, the President-General of the Agu-Ukehe autonomous community, Mr Eugene Arogba, called for the construction of a market in the community to enable farmers to sell their produce.
Arogba commended Odo for the ongoing construction of Umuoka–Nkporogwu-Ukehe-Ngele-Okwete-Ugwuogo-Nike Road, adding: “This road will be a legacy project for years to come.”
