International
Journal of Community Research
ISSN: 2315 – 6562
E-ISSN: 2384 - 6828
Nwaopara and
Blackies, IJCR 2014; 3(3): 80-85.
THE INCIDENCE OF
HUMAN INDUCED COMMUNITY ROAD DILAPIDATION:
A CASE STUDY OF
EKPOMA, EDO- NIGERIA
1,2,3Nwaopara, A.O; 2,3Blackies,
H.O.T
1Anthonio Research
Center, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria; 2Department of Anatomy, Ambrose Alli
University,
Ekpoma, Edo State,
Nigeria; Innovative Science Research, Foundation, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.
Correspondence: nwaoparaao@yahoo.com
30th May, 2014
Accepted: 28th July, 2014 Published: 31st July, 2014
ABSTRACT
The manner by which
community roads are been excavated without concerted efforts to seal them up
properly, has indeed become a worrisome phenomenon. The irony is the fact that
requisite government agencies and community leaders/youths are apparently
indifferent to this phenomenon; especially in this era whereby communities
across Nigeria are groaning over the general lack of basic amenities,
dilapidated infrastructures, poor social welfare, endemic corruption,
leadership crisis, political instability, insecurity and hopelessness. It is
based on the obvious human and economic consequences of this trend that we set
out to investigate such incidence in Ekpoma –a semi urban town in Edo State,
Nigeria, known for her characteristic good road network. An on-the-spot
assessment of the roads was conducted and our findings revealed that many roads
in Ekpoma town have been excavated and left at the mercy of natural forces
without tangible effort to seal them up properly. It is our recommendation
therefore, that relevant government agencies/community leaders should be alive
to their responsibilities, while perpetrators are encouraged to do the needful
when the need for road excavation arises. Like the saying goes, a bird at hand
is worth millions in the air and a stitch in time saves nine.
Key Words: Human
development, Optic fibre cables, Street lights, Road dilapidation
INTRODUCTION
Prior to 1999,
Nigerians barely communicated effectively with relatives, friends, business
partners and associate. Although communication services existed, availability,
effectiveness, and efficiency were descriptive words alien to that pre-1999 era
(Arzika, 2000). But reprieve came when the federal government under former
Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, gave licenses to private mobile phone
network providers and this triggered a wave of changes that had so far enhanced
communication among Nigerians and the rest of the world (Balogun, 2000; Ndukwe,
2004; Ajala, 2005). Undoubtedly, the advent of Global System of Mobile communication
(GSM) services in Nigeria, has contributed tremendously to most of the developmental
changes and transformations recorded in Nigeria; especially in her economy and
education sectors (Wojuade, 2006; Adomi, 2006). This great developmental tool has
also become an instrument in the hands of retrogressive forces like criminals
and terrorists, as such anti-societal forces can now communicate effectively to
perpetrate their evil deeds and leave behind a trail of destructions. For
instance, mobile phones have become detonating tools for improvised explosive
devices (IEDs) in the hands of the members of Boko-Haram –a terrorists group threatening
the peace and security of Nigeria (OSS, 2005; Nnochiri, 2011). Another
disheartening trend denting the undeniable positive roles of GSM in Nigeria, is
the manner by which mobile network service providers are undertaking the laying
of optic fibre cables across lands and roads all over Nigeria without apparent efforts
to seal them up properly; particularly the excavated tarred roads, thereby
laying foundations for road dilapidation. This developmentally-related but
apparently destructive activity has also been observed in the excavation of
road-sides (to lay light cables) by contractors awarded street lights
contracts. Indeed, as several communities in Nigeria groan over the general
lack of basic amenities, dilapidated infrastructures, poor social welfare, endemic
corruption, leadership crisis, political instability, insecurity and
hopelessness, it is retrogressive therefore, to destroy the few existing
infrastructures in the name of these so-called developmental projects. Okunna
(2002) had earlier asserted that development should bring positive changes and should
be for the majority of the people. Moreover the fact that relevant government
agencies appear in different to this phenomenon literarily makes it indeed, an
unfortunate bitter pill to swallow. Of course, there are appropriate
regulations and surely, regulatory bodies, put in place to check such activities
where necessary, except if such government agencies saddled with the
responsibility are not alive to their duties or have comprised to look the
other way. What of the community leaders? What of the youths? Are they no
longer interested in the goingson in their communities considering their
trade-mark enforcement of compulsory levy payment by prospective developers?
What of residents? Are they not observing the trend and the destructive
potentials of such phenomenon? It is even more devastating to observe that some
of these road destructive activities are occurring within the jurisdictions of
Local Government Authorities who can barely maintain roads damaged by natural
forces or even think of constructing new ones due to lack of funds (Aderamo and
Magaji, 2010). Considering therefore, the obvious human and economic
consequences of the trend in question, we set out to investigate the incidence
of such phenomenon in Ekpoma –a semi urban town in Edo State, Nigeria, known
for her characteristic good road network.
International
Journal of Community Research http://www.arpjournals.com
ISSN: 2315 – 6562
E-ISSN: 2384 - 6828
Nwaopara and Blackies, IJCR 2014; 3(3):
80-85. 81
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