By Joseph Kerkula
NIMBA, Liberia- Citizens of Meipeamahn and Zahn in district #8 in the northeastern Nimba County are calling on ArcelorMittal iron ore mining Company to improve the road in the corridor from Moungbain Community to Zahn Duo at the St. John River Bridge.
The citizens, who made the call recently on the local Truth FM in Saclepea, said the road intervention initiated by AML is not of high standards yet. And they are calling on the AML to improve the road by reconditioning it and changing the culverts. They said Drainages should be opened erosion to pass.
In the wake of the calls for improvement, the citizens said they have waved about 10 feet of their crops by the road side to be destroyed for better road and a durable one. They are asking the company to extend the road by 10 feet on both sides of the road.
The citizens also want the iron ore mining company to light up the road by installing street lights, as too many trees are on the road which causes damage.
According to the citizens, the improvement of this road corridor would enhance agricultural activities in the area, with many farmers involved in Rubber, Palm oil production, and other vegetables production.
For the past years, pregnant women have found difficult to rush at health facilities due to rush at health facilities due to bad road in the district.
According to some female callers, women have died in mud while some have had miscarriages due to bad road connectivity.
During the rainy season, movement on this road corridor is very difficult, as vehicles and motorcycles find it very difficult to ply this route.
Recently, Arcelor Mittal Liberia launched the rehabilitation of the Access Road from Moungbain to Zahn Duo in district#8.
The rehabilitation came after a locomotive (train) travelling from Grand Bassa to Yekepa with some heavy equipment was derailed, when two bridges were affected over the St. John River.
One of the bridges is on the train tracks while the other is over the river to be used by motor vehicles and pedestrians.
The access road rehabilitation was initiated by the AML to allow her equipment and other materials move to the site of the bridge that connects with Bong County.
The citizens believe that the initiative is an opportunity for the improvement of their roads they have been yearning for over the past decade now.
Speaking to an insider at ArcelorMittal, a staff in Yekepa said the company is going to the road proper as requested by the citizens.
The staff, who preferred not to be named in the story, said that some new culverts that guaranteed have been deposited by the road side for installation.
He said the company is working to connect the train tracks so as to allow the transportation of ore to the port in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County before focusing the access road work for better improvement.
Citizens in the area have been called upon to remain calm and look up to the iron ore mining company.
They have been assured that the company will work with the affected communities to transform their lives.