The incidence of human induced community road dilapidation: A case study of Ekpoma, Edo- Nigeria

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