Residents of Amuokpokpor-Elume community in Sapele Local Council of Delta State have raised the alarm over the collapse of a road recently completed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), describing it as a death trap that has caused loss of life and paralysed economic activities in the area.
Speaking to journalists, the community Chairman, Daniel Ogbodo, expressed frustration that despite repeated complaints, the failed road—intended to link the agrarian community to other parts of the council—has remained in a deplorable condition.
Ogbodo made a passionate appeal to the NDDC to urgently return to the site and fix the road, which he said collapsed barely a year after completion due to the alleged use of substandard materials.
“The road was a beacon of hope when the project began in 2020. There was jubilation throughout the community. But it didn’t even last a year. Today, it’s worse than before—heaps of stones, exposed iron rods, and no drainage system. It is now a complete death trap,” Ogbodo said.
Also, community elder Olu Majelele and the President-General of Elume District, Felix Emuobonuvie, decried the daily struggles residents now face, including frequent motorcycle and vehicle accidents, tyre punctures, and general inaccessibility.
“The road is almost impassable. Metal rods have resurfaced through the concrete. Riders avoid coming here. Goods can’t be transported. We are suffering. The recent death of our son whose car overturned on this road is just one example of the dangers we face,” Emuobonuvie lamented.
Both leaders called on the NDDC to immediately deploy engineers to inspect the road and begin reconstruction, warning that continued neglect of the only access road to the community could lead to further tragedy.
They also appealed for proper supervision and quality assurance in future projects, noting that the community’s hope has turned into despair due to the failed intervention.
“This road is our only lifeline. We ask the NDDC to hear our cry and help us before more lives are lost,” they pleaded.
