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From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
Ogbaru, one of the oil-producing communities in Anambra State has decried what it called age-long neglect and setback by both the government and oil companies despite huge damage done to its ecosystem.
The community while trying to address their challenges, organised an economic summit to thinker with various developmental challenges facing it and set agenda on how to revive social life and boost economic growth of the area.
Part of the activities marking the summit was setting up of various committees headed by notable sons and daughters of Ogbaru Local Government Area including Okpoko.
The community announced a Think Tank of ten committees in different developmental areas to further gather the ideas generated at the summit, develop and implement them before the next summit slated for 2025.
Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze while addressing participants expressed concerns over several years of setbacks bedevelling people of Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state following decades of neglect and underdevelopment.
He said the ugly situation was more worrisome especially when juxtaposed with the rich culture, resilience and untapped potential that characterised the town.
Also speaking, former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, highlighted strategies to foster sustainable development in Ogbaru to achieve its potentials.
She said Ogbaru indigenes were special breed known for their contentment amidst poverty, urging them to harness such virtues to restore the good old days.
In his own speech, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Chief Afam Ogene, urged state government to produce a master plan for the development of Ogbaru.
He underscored Ogbaru as the state’s industrial, oil and gas, as well as agricultural belt of the state but largely neglected by the government.
While identifying poor roads, electricity, health facilities, schools, insecurity and human capacity development as some of the myriad of challenges facing the area, the lawmaker urged the people to seize the opportunity offered by the summit to make intentional efforts to protect their land and preserve its values.
