The traditional ruler of Otolokpo Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Obi Collins Alioma Ezenwali, has appealed to the state government to urgently rehabilitate the four-kilometre Otolokpo–Ute Elugwu road, which he said had been abandoned for more than 10 years.

The monarch made the appeal during the New Yam Festival celebration in Otolokpo, lamenting that the deplorable condition of the road had effectively cut off the community from several neighbouring communities and crippled commercial and agricultural activities in the area.

According to him, the road, which was previously a major link between Otolokpo, Ute Elugwu, Ali Nwachokor, Egbudu Akan and other communities, had become almost impassable because of gully erosion and years of neglect.

He said residents and travellers who previously spent about 20 minutes on the route now had to spend several hours accessing the same communities through a circuitous route via Ute Okpu and Alohen before connecting Ebu-eno in Ute Elugwu.

Obi Ezenwali said: “The road has closed up. Gully erosion has divided several sections of the road. Some years ago, people from neighbouring communities travelling to our community and Umunede came through this road, but today it is no longer so.

“Despite our efforts to carry out remedial work, the situation got worse due to the gully erosion menace that has brought tears to road users.

“The journey which ordinarily takes about 20 minutes in the time past now takes several hours. All the roads connecting Ebu-eno, the four-road junction, are motorable except the one from Otolokpo.”

The monarch said the development had taken a heavy toll on the local economy, particularly farming and trading, as farmers were finding it increasingly difficult to evacuate their produce to markets.

He noted that some farmers had abandoned their farms because of the difficulty of transporting agricultural products, while motorcycles and bicycles could no longer conveniently navigate portions of the road.

“Traders who hitherto came to the market in Otolokpo from communities in the Ute Elugwu axis are now cut off. This sad development is affecting our commercial activities,” he added.

The traditional ruler commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for completing the Boji Owa–Otolokpo road, but appealed to the governor to extend the project to Ute Elugwu, Egbudu Akan and Ejeme.

He said the existing tarred road from Boji Owa ends around the Grammar School at the end of Otolokpo, urging the state government to continue the road from that point to open up the communities.

“The road from Boji Owa to this community leads to Ute Elugwu, Egbudu Akan and beyond. Unfortunately, the tarred road ends by the Grammar School at the end of the town.

“The state government can take it up from there so as to bring relief to commuters and residents. That is our appeal,” Obi Ezenwali said.

He also appealed for the reconstruction of the Otolokpo–Ute Ogbeje road, which he said had deteriorated considerably, making movement towards Akumazi, Obior and other adjoining communities increasingly difficult.

Beyond road infrastructure, the monarch expressed concern over the challenges posed by herders in the area, calling on security agencies to protect farmers and prevent further encroachment on farmlands.

He urged security personnel “to save our farmers from the hands of herdsmen who invaded our land.”