FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FENRAD Calls on GODA: Fix Ebem Ohafia Access Road Now, Open Up Infrastructure Spending to Public Scrutiny
Environmental Rights Group Demands Immediate Remediation, Erosion Control, Ecological Restoration and Accountability in Greater Ohafia Infrastructure Development
Ebem Ohafia, Abia State — 6th September 2026.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Nigeria, calls on the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA) to urgently address the deteriorating condition of the Ebem Ohafia access road and other community roads, while demanding transparency and public oversight of budgetary allocations for infrastructure development within the Greater Ohafia development area.
FENRAD’s intervention is driven by concerns over the deteriorating state of the Ebem Ohafia access road and the wider environmental challenges confronting the community. The condition of the road has implications not only for transportation and economic activities but also for erosion control, drainage, flooding, soil stability, ecological protection and public health.
FENRAD therefore urges GODA and the Abia State Government to undertake an immediate engineering, environmental and ecological assessment of the affected road corridors and surrounding communities and commence appropriate remediation without further delay.
Road Infrastructure Is Also an Environmental Issue
For FENRAD, the condition of community roads must be understood within the broader environmental context.
Poorly constructed or neglected roads can alter natural drainage patterns and accelerate the movement of stormwater across exposed soil surfaces. Where drainage infrastructure is absent, inadequate or poorly maintained, heavy rainfall can result in gully formation, sheet erosion, road washouts, flooding and progressive degradation of adjoining properties and farmlands.
In Ebem Ohafia, road rehabilitation must therefore be accompanied by appropriate erosion-control and ecological management measures.
Simply filling potholes or resurfacing a road without addressing the underlying drainage and erosion problems could provide only temporary relief while leaving the community vulnerable to recurring infrastructure failure.
Erosion Control Must Be a Priority
FENRAD calls on GODA to give erosion control a central place in the planning and execution of road rehabilitation and other infrastructure projects within Greater Ohafia.
Appropriate interventions should include, depending on site-specific assessments:
- Construction and rehabilitation of functional stormwater drains and culverts;
- Proper discharge points to prevent concentrated runoff from creating erosion channels;
- Stabilisation of vulnerable road shoulders and embankments;
- Use of appropriate erosion-control structures and environmentally suitable materials;
- Vegetative stabilisation and restoration of degraded areas where appropriate;
- Regular desilting and maintenance of drainage channels;
- Protection of natural waterways from excessive sediment loads;
- Identification and treatment of erosion-prone locations before they become major ecological hazards; and
- Continuous monitoring of rehabilitated areas, particularly during the rainy season.
◼️FENRAD stresses that erosion control must be preventative, not merely reactive. Government should intervene before small drainage failures develop into major gullies capable of destroying roads, homes, agricultural land and other community assets.
◻️Addressing the Wider Ecological Challenges
◼️FENRAD further calls for a broader environmental assessment of ecological challenges associated with infrastructure development and land-use changes in Ebem Ohafia.
◻️Such assessment should consider:
◼️Flooding and stormwater:
Poor drainage can cause water to accumulate on roads and residential areas, creating safety hazards, damaging infrastructure and increasing exposure to water-related health risks.
◻️Soil erosion and land degradation:
Uncontrolled runoff can remove topsoil, undermine road foundations and progressively degrade adjoining land.
◼️Sedimentation of waterways:
Eroded soil and improperly managed construction materials can enter streams and drainage channels, reducing their capacity and potentially affecting aquatic ecosystems.
◻️Loss of vegetation:
Road construction and other development activities can contribute to the removal of vegetation that naturally helps stabilise soil and regulate stormwater. Where vegetation is removed, appropriate restoration should be considered.
◼️Waste and blocked drainage:
The indiscriminate disposal of solid waste can obstruct drainage channels and worsen flooding. Infrastructure interventions should therefore incorporate responsible waste management and community environmental awareness.
◻️Dust and air-quality concerns:
Deteriorated road surfaces and construction activities can generate dust, affecting pedestrians, residents, roadside businesses and other vulnerable groups.
◼️Climate resilience:
Infrastructure planning must account for changing rainfall patterns, intense precipitation events and other climate-related risks. Roads and drainage systems should be designed for long-term resilience rather than short-term functionality.
◻️FENRAD Demands Immediate Remediation of Ebem Ohafia Access Road
FENRAD calls on GODA and relevant Abia State authorities to urgently:
- Undertake a comprehensive engineering, environmental and ecological assessment of the Ebem Ohafia access road;
- Immediately remediate severely degraded and dangerous sections of the road;
- Construct, rehabilitate and maintain appropriate drainage systems and culverts;
- Implement comprehensive erosion-control measures along vulnerable sections and road shoulders;
- Identify and address flood-prone areas and uncontrolled stormwater pathways;
- Stabilise degraded soil and embankments and undertake appropriate ecological restoration;
- Protect nearby streams, waterways, farmlands and other ecological receptors from sedimentation and construction-related pollution;
- Ensure proper management and disposal of construction and excavated materials;
- Adopt dust-control measures during construction and maintenance;
- Apply climate-resilient engineering standards to road and drainage infrastructure; and
- Establish a transparent and publicly accessible maintenance programme following rehabilitation.
◼️Public Accountability and Oversight of Budgetary Allocations
◼️FENRAD further demands greater transparency regarding budgetary allocations, releases and expenditure by GODA and other relevant public institutions responsible for infrastructure and environmental interventions within the Greater Ohafia area.
◻️The people have a legitimate right to know how public funds allocated for roads, drainage, erosion control and other development projects are being planned, released, contracted, utilised and monitored.
◻️FENRAD therefore calls for the public disclosure, subject to applicable laws, of relevant information concerning:
- Budgetary allocations for road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance;
- Allocations for erosion control, drainage and environmental interventions;
- Funds released and expenditure incurred;
- Approved projects and their implementation status;
- Contractors and implementing entities;
- Contract sums, project timelines and scopes of work;
- Environmental and engineering assessments undertaken;
- Erosion-control, drainage and ecological safeguards incorporated into projects; and
- Monitoring, evaluation and maintenance arrangements.
◼️FENRAD also calls on the Abia State House of Assembly and other relevant oversight and accountability institutions to exercise effective oversight over public expenditure associated with infrastructure and environmental management in Greater Ohafia.
◻️This demand should not be interpreted as an allegation of financial misconduct against GODA or any individual. It is a legitimate civil-society call for transparency, accountability, environmental responsibility and value for public money.
◼️Development Must Be Sustainable and Community-Centred
◻️The establishment of GODA was intended to contribute to balanced development within the Greater Ohafia area. FENRAD believes that this objective must translate into safe roads, functional drainage, effective erosion control, ecological protection and sustainable infrastructure at the community level.
◼️Development should not create new environmental liabilities for communities.
◻️A road that is reconstructed without drainage, erosion control and appropriate environmental safeguards may deteriorate again, resulting in repeated public expenditure and continued hardship for residents.
◼️FENRAD therefore urges GODA to adopt an integrated approach in which road construction, drainage, erosion management, ecological restoration and community resilience are treated as interconnected development priorities.
◼️Community Participation and Environmental Monitoring
◼️FENRAD calls for meaningful participation of residents, traditional institutions, community development associations, farmers, youth groups, environmental organisations and other relevant stakeholders in infrastructure planning and monitoring.
◼️Community members often possess valuable knowledge concerning recurrent flooding points, erosion pathways, failed culverts, degraded waterways and other ecological challenges.
◻️Their participation can improve project design, strengthen accountability and ensure that interventions respond to actual community needs.
◻️FENRAD’s Position
◻️FENRAD recognises the importance of GODA in advancing development within Greater Ohafia. However, development must be measured not simply by the number of projects announced or constructed, but by their quality, accessibility, environmental sustainability, resilience and long-term maintenance.
◻️The people of Ebem Ohafia deserve safe and functional access roads. They also deserve protection from preventable erosion, flooding, ecological degradation, dust pollution and other environmental hazards associated with inadequate infrastructure planning and maintenance.
◻️FENRAD therefore reiterates its call for:
▫️Immediate remediation of the Ebem Ohafia Access Road.
▫️Comprehensive erosion-control and drainage interventions.
▫️Assessment and remediation of wider ecological challenges affecting the community.
▫️Climate-resilient and environmentally responsible infrastructure development.
▫️Transparent disclosure and effective oversight of public funds allocated to Greater Ohafia development.
▫️Meaningful community participation in infrastructure planning and monitoring.
◻️FENRAD remains committed to constructive engagement with GODA, the Abia State Government, communities and other stakeholders toward achieving environmentally sustainable, accountable and equitable development in Greater Ohafia.
Signed:
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor Executive Director
Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Nigeria
Advancing Environmental Rights, Justice, Accountability and Sustainable Development
Media/Enquiries:
[Telephone; 08033383708,07062949232,
[Email; info@fenrad.org.ng
[Website; www.fenrad.org ng Media] follow us At Instagram,X (Formerly Twitter) Facebook,Titkok @FENRADNIGERIA
