Farmers in Anam, Anambra West, have issued a desperate appeal to both federal and state authorities to repair critical access roads before the harvest season and the annual Otee Anam (New Yam Festival), warning of looming food shortages and economic hardship.
With just over a month until the community’s highly anticipated New Yam Festival, deteriorating road conditions have raised fears of massive post-harvest losses. The Okpokolo Ruling Council, the traditional leadership of the Anam community, has called for swift government intervention to avert a crisis.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, Chairman of the Council, Chief Udorji Okeke Ezeagbor, decried the persistent neglect of rural infrastructure.
“It is still surprising that in this 21st century, farmers are still complaining of lack of access roads to convey their farm products to markets,” he said.
Anam is a major agricultural hub in the South East, known for its production of yams, cassava, vegetables, and rice. Farmers in the area play a vital role in ensuring food security across the region, but poor road infrastructure continues to hinder their ability to transport goods to market.
The impact, local leaders warn, could be far-reaching. Experts fear that if produce cannot reach buyers, farm gate prices will collapse, planting incentives for the next season will drop, and food inflation in urban centres will worsen—ultimately pushing more rural dwellers to abandon farming altogether.
Chief Ezeagbor criticised the widening gap between political promises and on-the-ground realities, especially for those who continue to labour in agriculture despite mounting challenges.
“The state government should be happy that there are still men and women who are willing to feed the nation, but access roads are now becoming a stumbling block,” he added.
Veteran farmer and community elder, Chief Okechukwu Nnoka, who has spent over 50 years in agriculture, echoed the chairman’s concerns, describing the government’s attitude towards farmers as disheartening.
“It is very unfortunate that governments in Nigeria care less about the farmers. The plight of farmers has been a disheartening one, but who cares?” he said.
He also linked Nigeria’s persistent food insecurity to leadership failure, noting that solutions are within reach if leaders would prioritise the needs of rural communities.
“To solve the problem of food scarcity in Nigeria is very simple, only that our leaders are interested in themselves,” Nnoka said.
The Council’s appeal spans both tiers of government. While urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo to immediately address the dilapidated state roads, they are also calling on federal authorities to rehabilitate major highways that serve the agricultural belt.
“I know Governor Chukwuma Soludo is not the cause, but he can still do something, and the credit goes to him,” Ezeagbor added, striking a diplomatic yet urgent tone.
Despite their frustrations, the farmers of Anam remain committed to feeding the nation. But without access to reliable infrastructure, their efforts and Nigeria’s food supply hang in the balance.
Chief Nnoka’s closing words captured the deep-seated disillusionment in many rural communities:
“The country has not got the kind of leaders they wanted.”
The Okpokolo Ruling Council’s appeal is more than a local complaint it is a timely call to action to prevent a food and economic crisis that could impact the entire region.
