The youths of Azuoto Okpuitumo Village in Okpuitumo Community, Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have called on Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to urgently construct a bridge across the Oto River to alleviate the hardships faced by residents, especially during the rainy season.
Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abakaliki, the Youth President of the village, Mr. Augustine Nwovu, lamented the severe suffering the village endures as a result of the absence of a motorable road and a functional bridge.
He explained that the village remains completely cut off from the rest of the Okpuitumo Community due to the river, a development which has negatively affected socio-economic activities, particularly the education of their children.
According to Nwovu, the situation becomes unbearable between May and October, when the Oto and Ebonyi rivers overflow their banks and flood the entire area. During this period, residents are forced to take a longer route through neighboring Ndinwogba Amachi Village, which he said is both expensive and stressful.
“We used to construct a makeshift bamboo bridge during the rainy season, but once the flood comes, it sweeps it away. Many of our children have drowned while trying to cross the river to go to school. Getting to our own community becomes a nightmare,” he said.
The youth leader further expressed concern over the yearly destruction of farmlands especially rice, yam and cassava due to persistent flooding, leaving the villagers in hunger and poverty. He said several appeals to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have yielded no assistance.
“Government should help us before hunger kills our people. Farming is our only source of livelihood. Every year we invest in farm work, and every year the flood carries everything away.
Sometimes we can’t even afford to pay school fees for our children,” he added.
Nwovu also appealed to Governor Nwifuru to consider appointing qualified sons and daughters of Azuoto Okpuitumo into positions of trust, noting that the village has never produced a management committee member, ward councillor, or liaison officer since its creation.
He described the Village as “totally forgotten,” and said politicians only remember them during election campaigns despite the village boasting a voting strength of over 5,000.
Despite their grievances, Nwovu reaffirmed the village’s unwavering support for Governor Francis Nwifuru, assuring that they are ready to deliver 100% votes for him in the 2027 general elections.
