The youth of Pochalla County in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) on Friday started opening feeder roads across the county headquarters, Pochalla town.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Othow Okoti, a youth representative, said they started opening feeder roads in response to calls from authorities because the county lacks roads.
“A master plan of Pochalla County was approved when we were still under Jonglei State. However, no allotment was done and no roads were opened,” Othow said. “Cars and people would just move through the airstrip posing danger. So we started with a road connecting the airstrip to the rest of the town.”
He said, “So far we are done with at least two kilometers of the road. It involves removing shrubs because we lack materials.”
Issa Ochan Ogalla, a local administrator said the ongoing initiative will help them deliver.
“About 35 local youths responded to our calls and were involved in the work this morning. The airstrip is our lifeline so we had to start with the airstrip road because it will help residents get services,” he said.
For his part, Charles Wello Onyony, a lawmaker representing Pochalla County in the national legislative assembly lauded the local youth for the initiative and that he decided to join them in the road works as a show of solidarity.