Speaking to hundreds of residents at Ayai Payam in Aweil South County on Wednesday, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Governor Simon Ober Mawut, pledged that his administration would prioritise road connectivity across counties, starting with the ongoing renovation of the Aweil East highway, which is being undertaken by locally contracted companies.
“We are committed to ensuring services reach people deep in the villages. I urge you to understand that we are economically challenged, and we need patience as we work to address developmental issues that affect not only you but the entire state and the nation at large,” Ober urged.
He added, “Services will be more accessible as markets will be filled with goods brought by local traders from other parts of the state and county on market days. People will be able to purchase goods at affordable prices, as disruptions caused by poor connectivity will no longer occur as they did before,” he noted.
Ober emphasised the importance of education, urging residents to send all children to school so they could become future leaders who would address community concerns. He noted that the government’s priorities are multifaceted, ranging from addressing food insecurity to tackling security challenges, which the national government is actively working to resolve.
The governor also encouraged local farmers to diversify their farming methods, moving beyond traditional practices. He advised training oxen to use ploughs and planting crops that yield quickly to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as the state is experiencing erratic rainfall patterns that come and go unpredictably.
Addressing the same occasion, Dominic Kang Deng, the Minister of Physical Infrastructure, represented the Ministry of Roads and Bridges and outlined the road’s potential benefits for the people of Ayai and surrounding areas.
Mr. Kang acknowledged the significant challenges faced by local communities due to poor road conditions, which have caused complications for expectant mothers, the elderly, and critically ill individuals struggling to access services in towns such as Aweil Town and other locations, including Malek-Alel, the county headquarters, when seeking essential services.
“It is a great pleasure that we have a road fully rebuilt through the resources of the community and with funding from the European Union through the World Food Programme (WFP),” said Kang.
“As many have previously advocated for extending road renovations to low-lying areas, such as those connecting Aweil East County, it would be imperative for the WFP to continue supporting efforts to reconnect remote areas, enabling access to goods in the markets of Aweil South and Aweil East,” he emphasised.
Kang urged the people of Aweil South to maintain the road, noting that engineers from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure would monitor its long-term viability to ensure it continues to serve communities in and around Ayai effectively.
Chief Ayom Akol Wek highlighted the severe impact of poor roads, revealing that numerous deaths had occurred in the past due to complications arising from inadequate infrastructure, which jeopardised the livelihoods of local people.
“Many deaths have occurred here, and with this road, people will be able to bring goods and access services in towns. All we need is to maintain it well. Others may be tempted to take marram for personal use during floods, but this must never happen,” he noted.
The road renovation project was funded by the European Union Trust Fund, implemented through the World Food Programme, and carried out by For Africa.
