Ahead of the rains, residents of Umuguma in the Owerri West local government area of Imo State have appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to install kerbs to save them from accidents.
Residents who commended Uzodimma for the remedial works on the road called for the immediate construction of kerbs to serve as barriers for cars and other road users.
Findings showed that already dozens of cars have fallen into the big gutter during rains and poor weather conditions.
A commercial bus driver, Ikem Udo told LEADERSHIP that during rains, the Umuguma road is flooded while drivers drive blindly without any guides.
Udo said: “Help us beg government to construct kerbs on the road, to save us from drowning. Once there’s heavy rain, the roads are completely flooded and we drive almost blindly.
It is very easy for vehicles to fall into the gutter and leave the occupants terribly injured.
“As I speak to you, if it rains or if it gets dark, there is a high risk of accident once it gets dark, it takes only the brave hearted to drive on this road. Personally, I’m tired of joining rescue efforts to save a victim from the gutter”.
A young mother, Mrs Florence Nwachukwu told newsmen that whenever it rains, vehicles desert the road because of poor visibility and accidents.
She called on the governor to immediately commission the construction of emergency kerbs on the Umuguma road to protect lives, vehicles, and motorcycles.
It was discovered that already dozens of cars have fallen into the big gutter during rains as there are no forms of barricades on the busy road that leads to Umuguma, federal housing, Okuku, Avu and other communities.
