Residents and business owners along the World Bank–Umuguma Road in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State are calling for urgent government intervention following severe flooding that has displaced families, damaged property, and brought commercial activities to a standstill.
The affected area, a major link between the World Bank Estate and the densely populated Umuguma community, has long suffered from poor road conditions and inadequate drainage. However, this year’s rainy season has reportedly brought the worst flooding in nearly a decade, with residents blaming repeated neglect and unfulfilled promises from successive administrations.
“This has been happening every rainy season since I moved here in 2014,” said Pastor Chigozie Ejikeme, a long-time resident. “Floodwater from the Imo Housing Estate overwhelms our homes and businesses. My church and office were submerged again this May. We keep getting sand dumped on the road, only for the contractors to disappear once the rains get heavier.”
He described the state’s handling of the road as “cosmetic and seasonal,” saying the intervention often amounts to nothing more than “window dressing.”
Another resident, Mr. Justin Ozuzu, echoed similar frustrations, stating that the community has endured “inexplicable hardship for years.” He said families have been forced to evacuate their homes while others remain trapped without viable alternatives.
“This is a densely populated area. Vehicles have been damaged, children can’t go to school, businesses are closed, and the road is practically impassable. Equipment is sometimes brought in just to create the illusion of work, only for it to be abandoned within days,” Ozuzu said.
According to him, some residents have spent hundreds of thousands of naira repairing flood-damaged vehicles, a heavy burden in an already struggling economy.
The community is urging the state government to take decisive steps to rehabilitate the road beyond what they describe as “symbolic gestures.” Residents say the recurring floods and stalled construction have not only displaced people but also posed health and safety risks, especially to vulnerable children and the elderly.
Efforts to get a response from the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent by journalists went unanswered as of press time.
The residents are demanding a comprehensive and lasting solution, stressing that the road’s condition is no longer just a local inconvenience but a humanitarian concern requiring immediate action.
