Ini Billie, Uyo
The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), has called on the Akwa Ibom State government to fix the bad roads littering the state.
Speaking on Wednesday in Uyo during an inspection of some of the bad roads, State Chairman, Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), Mr Franklyn Isong called on the Ministry of Works and Akwa Ibom Road and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA) to fix the roads.
Isong particularly made reference to Ikpa Road where the University of Uyo, Town campus is located and the adjourning Udo Ette Street and Itu Road, as well as the Uyo Village Road.
“Due to the bad condition of Ikpa Road, persons going to Udo ette and Itu Roads would not be able to pass. Those from Itu Road, Udo ette suffer the same fate. The students’ community are suffering, and those doing business are experiencing a down toll on their businesses, motorists are also suffering.
“I am calling on the government of Pastor Umo Eno to immediately direct the Ministry of Works and the agency that maintains roads, that is AKROIMA to commence jobs to construct and remedy this road so that the business community, those living around here and doing businesses would do their businesses,” he stated.
Ikpa Road collapsed when heavy-duty truck drivers began using the road as an alternative route, following repairs on Calabar-Itu Road by the state government.
The poor condition of the road has caused severe suffering to residents, business owners and workers whose source of livelihood depends on the bad roads.
Some of the affected persons who spoke with our correspondent have cried out over the government’s neglect and abandonment, saying the bad roads are ruining their means of livelihood.
Narrating the hardship they have suffered due to the worsening situation of the roads, some drivers and market women operating on the Ikpa road/Udo enter axis said they have lost so much to the bad roads.
One of the market women, Agnes Friday Edet (aka Eka Raphael) who said she has been selling vegetables and its accessories at the traffic light market for seven years, explained that her business has suffered.
“The road has been bad for the past seven years. Even when repairs have been done on the road, it gets bad quickly because the repair work is not properly done.
“This has affected sales. Business has been poor. Students cannot come here to buy from us because of the bad roads. We have become a thing of mockery.
“Government should come and fix the road. I cannot sit down at home, how will I survive, if I do?
A fruit seller, Chioma Ojeka said, “Because of this road, customers don’t come to buy fruits again because of the bad road. Tricycle riders are wary of this road, we now trek. The government should come and help us”.
A tricycle driver, Okon Asuquo said, “This road is not good. We want the government to work on this road. The bad road is spoiling our tricycles, even the commuters are complaining”.
In response, the state government said it is waiting for the rains to stop to commence work on the road. The Commissioner of Work, Prof Eno Ibanga said already, contracts for the roads have been awarded.