The traditional ruler of Ntalakwu Ancient Kingdom in Itumbauzor, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Chike Okorie, has appealed to the Federal Government and Governor Alex Otti to urgently address the deteriorating condition of the Umuokpe Ntalakwu road and the lack of potable water in his community.

The monarch, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, spoke about the challenges facing his people, saying the poor road network and water shortage had worsened economic hardship and created additional health concerns for residents.

According to him, indigenes living in urban areas now find it difficult to travel to the community, while residents living in the village struggle to leave the area to access basic amenities.

Eze Okorie appealed to both levels of government to rehabilitate the Umuokpe Ntalakwu road, noting that the condition of the road had significantly affected economic activities in the community.

He said the situation was particularly troubling because most residents depend on farming for their livelihood.

The monarch recalled a recent incident in which a vehicle transporting a corpse to the community became trapped in mud at one of the dangerous sections of the dilapidated road.

According to him, youths were eventually forced to carry the casket on their heads to the burial venue.

“Recently, the corpse of our female granddaughter, which was being brought into my community before her burial, as the tradition demands, got stuck because of the deplorable condition of the road,” he lamented.

He appealed to the government to ensure that residents of Ntalakwu were not left behind as road projects were being executed in other parts of Abia State.

“My community drinks and bathes from the same community stream because we don’t have any other source, and this is dangerous to the health of my people. We need help,” Eze Chike Okorie said.

He stressed that the lack of a reliable source of potable water posed a serious concern for the health and wellbeing of residents.

Also speaking, the President-General of Umuokpe Ntalakwu Concerned Citizens, William Osondu, and the Women Leader, Divine Uka, appealed for government intervention.

They lamented that residents were increasingly struggling to access schools and the community market because of the poor condition of the road.

According to them, pupils sometimes fall while attempting to navigate the hilly and severely damaged sections of the road, further highlighting the difficulties faced by residents.