In Umuahia, it’s garbage, garbage everywhere

Going to Umuahia, the capital of Abia State is a tough task; it is like a journey to Golgotha. It is an exercise that has deleterious effect on commuters as well as takes a heavy toll on vehicles. Whether you are coming from the Port Harcourt/Aba axis or the Okigwe section, it is the same sto­ry. It is the story of an expressway filled with gullies and craters, an expressway to hell.

Ordinarily, it takes about 50 minutes or less to drive from Aba to Umuahia but with the current state of the road, it can take be­tween two and five hours. This is because some portions of the Port Harcourt – Aba – Enugu expressway have failed completely. In fact, the level of degradation and devasta­tion of the road is unimaginable. Some por­tions have become death traps; it is worse than what obtains in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Somalia. One notoriously bad spot is the Osisioma junc­tion where vehicles are sometimes trapped for hours and commuters forced to trek long distances. And because of the indescribable state of the road, drivers do not observe traffic rules. They drive against traffic in an attempt to avoid the gullies dotting the long stretch. This often results in head-on collisions and, consequently, injuries and deaths. Again, bandits operate freely at the bad spots where vehicular movements are impeded. Ironically, scores of billboards dot the expressway from Aba to Umuahia dress­ing Governor Theodore Orji in the robe of a miracle worker. Billboards of the governor also litter the capital.

It is not difficult to know that you have arrived Umuahia capital territory if you are coming from the Port Harcourt/Aba axis. You will be greeted by a stinging odour ema­nating from wastes occupying a vast expanse of land on the right hand side of the road. The ‘Ochendo perfume,’ as it is popularly referred to, will also alert you when leaving the town. Even if you were sleeping in a ve­hicle with the window down, the offensive odour would hit you into consciousness, like a sucker punch.

Inside the capital

The Abia Tower welcomes you to the capital of the state, which prides itself as God’s own state. Going right, you enter into the centre of the town. The reporter was in Umuahia on September 4, 2014 and discov­ered that the city has remained largely un­touched in the last couple of years. No at­tempt has been made to spruce up the city. Even streets in the prestige areas are ailing. According to a resident, Mr Hilary Ijomah, “the city is going backwards satisfying the ambitions of a few insatiable men and wom­en and their children.”

Decaying infrastructure

Umuahia, today, is not a song worth sing­ing. The city is gradually decaying. It is like a fading flower. Or rather, it sits in the sun like a forgotten old lady. And no one seems to care. To start with, the alluring lawns by the sidewalk, particularly along Bank Road/ Library Avenue, have lost their beauty. They are now left to grow wild and mowed, if at all, in a manner that destroys the aesthetic values. Parts of School Road, Aba Road and Umuwaya Road, among others, are over­grown with weeds. Take the Post Office on Umuwaya Road. It contends with reptiles and bushes.

As a matter of fact, Umuahia looks ordi­nary. Hear this from Bro Timothy, a com­mercial tricycle (Keke) rider: “If you come to Umuahia after going to a place like Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom, you will be angry. I cannot understand what the governor and his people are doing. The only thing we know is that Ikuku is always terrorising people. He can park his car in the middle of the road for as long as he wants and inconvenience peo­ple and nothing will happen. I don tire for this place.”

In the same vein, Mr Innocent Nwamuo, a banker, remarked: “I have been in Umua­hia for some years now but nothing has changed in terms of adding value by way of beautification and expansion. All the roads were tarred by previous administrations; the outgoing administration has done virtually nothing. I think one can say that the admin­istration is clueless; the government doesn’t know what to do. I think that is what they  call incompetence. The present regime is an embarrassment to this state. In fact, Umuahia is gradually going the way of Aba in terms of poor infrastructure but the good thing is that there will be a change of baton in May next year. But there is the culture of fear. If you talk, they may come after you; that’s why many people are not speaking openly now. Wait till after handover and see what will happen.”

Major roads in the town are steadily crumbling. Umuwaya Road, which is in the heart of the town, is developing cracks and potholes just like Eket Street. Niger Street is no longer smooth while Oji River Road is in bad shape. Umuokpara Street by Amuzukwu layout is bad; Amafor Street is a sad com­mentary on the city. Other roads in the town that need attention include Owerri Road, Owerri Road Extension and Uzoanya Cres­cent.

Life in the residential areas in Umuahia is not what one would call exciting. Such residential areas as the World Bank, Agbama and Low Cost Housing Estates are steeped in darkness and decay. Less than seven minutes away from the seat of power, they suffer ab­ject neglect. You will begin to see a sign of the condition of World Bank Estate as soon as you drive in through Health Centre Road. There, you are greeted by an overflowing garbage bin messing up the environment. An acrid odour pervades the surrounding, forc­ing passers-by to close their noses. Umu­waya Road also contends with overflowing refuse. However, the mother of waste dumps is at Captain Nwachukwu Street, Agbama Estate. The mould of waste has taken over part of the uneven road. It was disgusting to discover such a place in a state capital and more shocking to see human beings living in such deplorable condition. Indeed, such places are made for pigs.

“My brother, this is how we see it. They come to remove the garbage once in a long while. We are living in danger and there is nothing we can do about it. Our situation is worse when it rains and the garbage is soaked. Then it stinks to high heavens and there is no way you can stop people from generating wastes. We fear the outbreak of disease here. Living here is a horrendous and harrowing experience,” lamented a civil servant who wants to remain anonymous for fear of being persecuted in the office.

Most of the roads at World Bank Estate are begging for attention. They include Isuochi Street, Sir Ugoji Ogali Street, Onyejelem Amaechi Street and Ututu Street. Worse still, many of the roads in the residential areas are not named, making identification diffi­cult. A particular street in Agbama leading to Olokoro is simply indescribable. It’s dirty, narrow and flood-ravaged. Out of bounds to vehicles, it is even difficult navigating it on foot. It doesn’t belong to this age and time. In the words of a resident: “It is a total shame.”

The Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road is im­passable. There, even big vehicles are swal­lowed up in the craters on the road. So, driv­ers have become pathfinders, as they navigate through the bushes where they are sometimes forced to pay toll by village urchins.

Levies without end

It was gathered that the state government imposes arbitrary levies on residents. For in­stance, tricycle operators in Umuahia pay the following levies daily: (1) Daily infrastruc­tural development levy: N100; Daily Tricy­cle park toll: N20; Tricycle owners/riders association daily ticket: N50 and daily road safety ticket: N20. It was learnt that default­ers, when caught by the dreaded and gener­ally vicious task force, will have themselves to blame. Keke riders also pay an annual tax of N3,600 each.

Uzor, a keke rider, told the reporter: “You don’t have any other option than to pay what­ever levies they come up with because if the task force people catch you, they will im­pound your keke.

They will harass and manhandle you and before your keke will be released to you, you will part with nothing less than N3,000. We dey fear them no be small.”

Perhaps, it is because of the multiple lev­ies that there are no taxis in Umuahia.

According to Prince Ukaegbu, Abia State APGA chairman: “Umuahia is the only state capital in the whole Nigeria you cannot get a cab. There is no taxi in Umuahia.”

It was also gathered that landlords and traders or shop owners pay all manner of lev­ies. Darkness can be found at the edges of the capital city as the suburbs are not developed