3 years after FERMA repairs, erosion threatens Edepie-Imiringi Road

By Samuel Oyadongha

YENAGOA—THE speed at which the Edepie-Imiringi road which links several communities in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity and launched Nigeria into the club of petro-dollar country, is being eroded is now a source of grave concern to residents and motorists plying the route.

Described as the busiest and quickest route to the oil-rich enclave of Bayelsa East senatorial district for commuters coming from the university town of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw council and communities in the Gbarain-Ekpetiama axis of the Central senatorial zone, the road may again be cut into two as a result of erosion.

Interestingly, the road which links many of the nation’s critical assets (crude oil and gas facilities) in the oil-rich Ogbia kingdom also serves several educational institutions in the area, including the Federal University, Otuoke, extension of Federal Medical Centre, Federal Government Girls College, Imiringi and the state-owned College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, among others.

Damaged by flood in 201

The road was completely cut off during the 2012 flood, which ravaged the entire state before it was rehabilitated in 2014 by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency FERMA. FERMA’s intervention was, however, an emergency replacement of the collapsed bridge as well as the rehabilitation of 1- km approaches on either side on Edepie-Imiringi-Otuasega road linking Mbiama-Yenagoa.

Deep craters: NDV reporter, who travelled through this strategic route, weekend, observed that deep craters have formed on the hitherto smooth road, while some sections of the edge have started collapsing due to erosion. The development, if not urgently address could spell doom for road users, especially haulage truckers and petrol tankers whose drivers are not conversant with the snaky route.

NDV learned that penultimate week, a giant container filled with drilling equipment strapped on one of the heavy duty trucks plying the route,  belonging to one of the oil servicing firms operating in the area,  fell off into the swamp while trying to navigate a failed portion of the road. According to sources, it took the company about five days to salvage the container after deploying heavy duty crane to the troubled spot.

Professional, users blame swampy terrain

Residents and commuters plying the route have expressed concern about the gradually washing away of the edge of the road, blaming the development on the swampy terrain. “This problem will continue to rear its ugly head since the road is lying on a vast stretch of sand-filled swampy land, which is susceptible to erosion occasioned by perennial flooding,” said a concerned engineer working with one of the oil servicing company in the area, Dauebi Roberts.

“Roads in this type of terrain calls for constant maintenance due to the influence of the elements on infrastructures or better still a suspended bridge is constructed across the swampy stretch of land to ensuring free movement of water underneath,” he added.

Disaster waitingto happen

An indigene of Imiringi, who spoke anonymously, said: “Driving through this windy road at night could be risky due to the several failed portions. Some sections of the road shoulder have caved in, but are covered by grasses. It is a waiting disaster for unsuspecting road users if nothing tangible is done to address the situation.

“This is a busy route used by many, including oil workers, academic staff and students,” a taxi driver, Sunny, told NDV, calling for the intervention of the authorities with a view to saving the road from being cut off.

Bridge urgently required

”If you are conversant with the road, you will discover that sometime in June, FERMA carried out maintenance work on a section of the road, but that same area has again been washed away, thereby reinforcing the clamour for the construction of a bridge across the vast swamp.

“This is one problem the Federal Government should take up the challenge to address given the unquantifiable contribution of Ogbia kingdom to the economy of the nation as an area where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity.

“We deserve a fair deal, Abuja had no single drop of oil, yet it was oil from the bowel of our land, the Niger Delta that was used in transforming the rocky land into a beautiful city with some of the best road network in Africa,” he added.

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