Ebonyi Youths Cry Out Over Failing Healthcare, Bad Roads, Insecurity, Demand Urgent Government Action

By Praise Chinecherem

Young people and community stakeholders in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have voiced deep concerns over what they described as the deteriorating state of healthcare, poor road infrastructure, inadequate waste management and growing security challenges, calling on government to urgently address the issues affecting their daily lives.

The concerns were raised during the Local Government Area Quarterly Dialogue Session organised by Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI) under its “Youth to Action Project,” a civic engagement programme designed to strengthen dialogue between citizens and government officials.

The participants, made up largely of youths and community representatives, lamented the poor condition of the Primary Health Centre in Ekeaba, describing inadequate medical equipment, shortage of essential drugs and limited access to quality healthcare services as major challenges confronting residents, particularly pregnant women and children.

One of the participants, Peace Obinali, alleged that patients were often charged for medical services despite the persistent unavailability of essential drugs.

“Primary Health Centres should be adequately stocked with essential drugs and medical supplies. Healthcare facilities, especially those providing maternal and child health services, must be equipped with the necessary medical equipment,” she said.

She also stressed the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of healthcare services.

“There should be clear measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the delivery of healthcare services so that residents receive the quality care they deserve.”

Beyond healthcare, participants drew attention to the deplorable condition of roads linking communities outside the Abakaliki metropolis, saying the poor road network continues to hamper transportation, economic activities and access to social services.

Speaking on behalf of the Zobam Youth Foundation, Peace Obinali urged the state government to prioritise road rehabilitation in rural communities.

“Communities outside Abakaliki township deserve quality road infrastructure. Good roads will improve transportation, boost local businesses and make it easier for people to access healthcare, education and other essential services.”

Waste management also featured prominently during the dialogue, with participants expressing concern over irregular refuse collection and the limited availability of designated waste disposal sites.

They warned that the current situation encourages indiscriminate dumping of refuse, resulting in environmental pollution and public health risks.

“The waste management system should be strengthened through improved waste collection services and the establishment of more accessible waste disposal points across communities.”

On security, Okemini Peter Chinedu of the FON Youth Movement raised concerns over the difficulty residents face in identifying genuine security personnel.

According to him, some security operatives patrol communities without proper uniforms or identification, creating confusion and exposing residents to possible criminal impersonation.

“Security agencies should ensure that personnel wear clearly identifiable uniforms and name tags. This will strengthen public confidence, improve accountability and help residents distinguish genuine security officers from criminal elements.”

Responding to the concerns, Councillor Nathaniel Ukpai, who represented the local government at the meeting, acknowledged the challenges highlighted by participants and assured them that their recommendations would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities.

“I will take these concerns to my chairman and ensure that issues within our jurisdiction receive the necessary attention. At the same time, I encourage citizens to continue engaging government constructively and present their concerns through the appropriate channels.”

Ukpai commended the organisers for creating a platform that enables meaningful interaction between citizens and government officials, expressing optimism that the dialogue would contribute to improved governance and service delivery.

Earlier, Executive Director of Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI), Mr. Nonso Orakwe, said the dialogue was organised to deepen citizen participation in governance and strengthen accountability at the grassroots.

According to him, the engagement provides residents with an opportunity to identify challenges affecting their communities, propose practical solutions and demand improved public services.

“The objective of this dialogue is to promote active citizen participation in governance. We want community members to openly discuss the challenges affecting them and make recommendations that will help government respond more effectively.”

He added that the programme also encourages conversations around critical issues including healthcare, infrastructure, environmental sanitation and security, while fostering collaboration between citizens and government representatives.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by participants and organisers to sustain dialogue, strengthen community engagement and work collectively towards improving governance and public service delivery across Abakaliki Local Government Area.