Residents of Ipo Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area have appealed to the Rivers State Government to provide a secondary school and rehabilitate the Ipo–Igwuruta road, saying the absence of both facilities is affecting education, security and development in the area.
The community said children who complete primary education are forced to travel to the neighbouring Uzuoha Community, for secondary schooling because there is no functional secondary school in Ipo.
Residents who spoke during a visit to the community blamed the poor condition of the Ipo–Igwuruta road for making access to the proposed secondary school site difficult.
Mrs. Ihuomachi Stephen and Mr. Amadi Christai said many parents could not afford the transportation cost for their children, adding that some pupils eventually abandon secondary education.
The Women Leader of Ipo Community, Mrs. Emmanuella Wali, expressed concern over the safety of children who travel daily to neighbouring communities for school.
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She urged the Rivers State Government to urgently construct a secondary school in Ipo Community to protect school children from security risks associated with long-distance travel.
Residents also lamented that successive administrations had promised to rehabilitate the Ipo–Igwuruta road but had yet to fulfil the commitment.
The Chief Priest of Ipo Community, Chief Kelvin Onyegbule, said the poor state of the road had stalled development of the proposed secondary school site.
According to him, rehabilitating the road would not only make the school project accessible but also improve the living conditions of residents and encourage development in the community.
As concerns over education and security continue to grow, residents said they were hopeful that the Rivers State Government would intervene promptly, insisting that safe roads and access to education are essential for the future of their children.
