Remediation works have commenced on the popular Umeh road in Isoko South local government area of Delta State.
The palliative measure is being carried out by the Member Representing Isoko South 2 Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon (Chief) Ferguoson Onwo.
Hon Onwo had expressed worried over the extent of damages done the road as a result of heavy flooding in the locality, which cut off chuck portions of the road.
Materials for the road rehabilitation exercise, including granites, sharp sand and bags of cement, arrived the community at the weekend, amidst the joy of the residents.
A good number of manual Labourers were also engaged and deployed to the site, as the people graved for quick completion of the remediation works.
Repairs on the seriously damaged areas commenced in earnest on Saturday, even as the Lawmaker inspect the road for on-the-spot assessment on the extent of the destruction and expected rehabilitation work to be carried out.
Hon Onwo who is the Chairman, House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs and Social Development, said the palliative work is not only to make the road motorable for the road users, but to forestall further damages on it.
He said the road link Umeh community with the ever busy East-West road, explaining that movement of farm produced to the markets was being hindered by the deplorable state of the road.
Hon Onwo decried the yearly devastating flooding in Umeh community, stressing that it is the desire of stakeholders for a permanent solution to the problem.
The Lawmaker disclosed that officials of the state ministry of Environment had visited to ascertain what could be done towards addressing the problem, especially on ways to channeling all water flow into the nearby river.
Onwo pointed out that the blocked culvert at Umeh junction of the East-West road, had worsened the situation and appealed for intervention of relevant government agencies.
He said the palliative measure was to prevent a total cut off of Umeh community from other communities in the state.
President General Umeh community, Mr Philip Agajere, a community leader, Duncan Atahokor and Pastor Nourish Igho, said flooding has been a major challenge in the agrarian rural riverine community of Umeh.
They commended Hon Onwo for expending his scarce resources to effect repairs on the Umeh road, maintaining that the palliative job would help ameliorate the pains of those plying the road.
The community leaders said the Delta State Government had deployed millions of naira to construct the Umeh road, emphasizing that there was the need for its constant maintenance.
Umeh is one of the communities in Isoko South 2 Constituency, Isoko South local government area, which residents are predominantly farmers.
On hand to receive the Lawmaker at the site of the road rehabilitation, were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on rural and community development, Chief Alade Odiri, a former President General, Umeh Development Union, Chief Philip Utoro, PDP Umeh Ward Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ibadan, and Mr. Peter Agbenevihor, a Executive member of PDP, Isoko South local government chapter.