By Our Correspondent

The Executive Chairman, Ukwuani Local government council, Hon. Barr. (Mrs) Ndudi Benedicta Osakunih-Izuegbu has commended the Umutu community for their numerous self-help projects in the town over the years.

Hon Izuegbugave this commendation while playing host to Umutu Development Union(UDU) in her office. The chairman noted that the community’s disposition towards development will attract as well as encouragethe government at all levels to come and execute meaningful projects in the community.

The Council boss while responding to their requests assured theUDU that immediately after the raining season that the council will commence road projects in the council area and Umutu community will not be left out even as she advised the UDU to strategies, organize and mobilize a high-power delegation to negotiate with the Benin Electricity Development Company(BEDC) in Benin so that the community and it’s environs can be reconnected to the National Grid and their outstandingbills in instalments.

She further urged the community to visit the World Bank in Asaba and access their community development programs.

Earlier in his address, the President-General, UDU,  Chief Gil Esume Uzoka expressed the gratitude of the Okpala-uku and the entire Umutu community to the chairman for her administrations’ love and high regards for the community. He also appreciated Hon Benedicta for the renovation of Umutu bridge.

Chief Gil pleaded with the council to come to the aid of Umutu as he enumerated some the community’s challenges to include; total blackout, bad roads, inadequate drainage systems amongst others.

The President-General noted that Umutu and other neighbouring communities have been without electricity for over one year now as a result of severance of electricity by the Benin Electricity Development Company(BEDC).

According to Chief Gil, the affected communities are Owah-Abbi, Ebedei Ukwuole, Adonishaka, Obi-Iloh, Umutu, Umuaja, Obeti, and Oliogo. These communities have made several spirited efforts to restore the light but the electricity company have remained adamant, he said.

He therefore called on the council and other relevant authorities to come to the aid of the communities so they can have light.