‘COMMUNITY CUT OFF, LIVES AT RISK’: ADONTE SENDS SOS TO OBORÉVWORI OVER ‘DEATH TRAP’ ROAD NEGLECT

By Our Correspondent

A searing open letter from the Adonte Community Development Union has put the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration on the spot, accusing the Delta State Government of sidelining a critical access road while residents endure economic strangulation, collapsing public services, and mounting health risks.

In the strongly worded appeal signed by its President General, Collins Okofu, the Adonte community in Aniocha South Local Government Area described the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonte/Aba-Unor road as their “lifeline”, now reduced to a deplorable, near-impassable route that has effectively cut the agrarian community off from the rest of the state.

While acknowledging the governor’s broader infrastructure efforts, the union warned that Adonte has been “left behind in the scheme of things,” forcing residents into a daily struggle for survival.

“WHY FORCE US TO THE BACKDOOR?”

At the heart of the protest is what the community called an “unimaginable plan” to route access to Adonte through the Nsukwa–Umute axis instead of the traditional and more viable Ogwashi-Uku link.

The community argued that the Ogwashi-Uku route, which connects directly to their local government headquarters — is geographically easier, requiring no bridges or complex engineering, unlike alternative routes.

“This is our primary road from time immemorial,” the letter stressed, questioning why authorities would ignore a straightforward option in favour of what residents see as a costly and impractical detour.

Frustration boiled over earlier this year when residents staged a peaceful protest at the Government House on January 13, 2026, demanding urgent intervention. Months later, they say nothing has changed.

Now, with the rainy season approaching, fears are escalating that the already dire situation could spiral into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

ECONOMY CHOKED, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS DYING

The consequences of the road’s collapse, according to the union, are devastating.

Farmers, the backbone of the local economy, are unable to transport produce to urban markets like Ogwashi-Uku and Asaba without prohibitive costs, leading to massive losses and declining incomes.

But the crisis goes beyond economics.

Schools in Adonte are reportedly “a shadow of themselves,” as teachers and National Youth Service Corps members avoid postings to the area due to inaccessibility. The local health centre is also reeling, with the community alleging rising maternal deaths as pregnant women struggle to access timely medical care.

“DECADES OF NEGLECT MUST END”

The union did not mince words: the neglect of the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonte road is not new, it is a decades-long grievance that has now reached breaking point.

They urged the governor to prioritise the road as an economic artery linking multiple farming settlements, arguing that fixing it would unlock development across the communities.

As a fallback, the group proposed an alternative connection through the Aba-Unor NDDC road linking the Ogwashi-Uku–Asaba express corridor, described as the shortest and most cost-effective option.

Despite the sharp criticism, the letter struck a politically cautious tone, praising Governor Oborevwori’s leadership and even endorsing him as their “number one choice” for the 2027 governorship race.

But beneath the courtesy lies unmistakable pressure: a community demanding to be seen, heard, and connected, before neglect turns into irreversible damage.

With the rains closing in and frustration mounting, the message from Adonte is blunt: fix the road, or watch an entire community slide deeper into isolation and despair.