..”I have abandoned my business” – Barber

BOMADI – Apart from the security of lives and property, another major responsibility of every government is the provision of basic amenities to its people.

But this provision of basic amenities is not to be in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta state as the residents, for no fault of theirs, have been in darkness 10years after a minor fault affected electricity supply to the locality while both the local and state governments looked the other way.

Bomadi, which forms part of the 25 local government areas in Delta State, Nigeria, is an Ijaw speaking area and lies on the bank of the Forcados River in the state.

It has ten communities namely: Ogriagbene, Esanma, Akugbene, Bomadi, Kpakiama, Ekamutagbene, Azebiri, Ogodobiri, Okoloba and Kalafuo-gbene. The town consists of two parts; Bomadi-overside and the Bomadi main town.

Since 2008, the town has had a power outage. Promises have been made by many politicians and leaders including Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to ensure that power is restored to the area to no avail.

The project has started since the past three months but residents feel very sad and they have called it “fake”.

According to them, “this is how they come and deceive us and they later disappear without any positive result”.

Speaking with the GbaramatuVoice over the weekend, some residents expressed their disappointment occasioned by the government’s inability to keep to their promises.

Counting their losses, Mrs. Ebiere, a frozen chicken seller, lamented the ordeal that befell them in the area for the past ten years.

In her words, “It has been a difficult task doing business in this locality since this power outage. Businesses are folding up as overhead has increased drastically.

“I am unable to make a reasonable profit as I always spend a huge amount of money fuelling my generating set,” she concluded.

On his part, Mr. John, a barber, bemoaned the excruciating pains they pass through doing business since the power outage. “I had a shop but I have locked it up because I am unable to meet up with the buying of fuel and at the same time pay for the shop.”

Some other residents further told our correspondent that it is during the electioneering period that the politicians visit, behave as if they care and disappear.

“This is how they come and behave like they care for the needs of the people, only when elections are coming up”.

Mr. Peter, a cyber café owner, also shared similar views: “Both the local and the state government have disappointed us.

 “All they do is to make promises and go away without fulfilling it.” 

Efforts made by our correspondent to speak with the local council chairman proved abortive as their telephone lines were switched off. 

By Gertrude Boatman

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