By Asuquo Cletus
The Calabar-Odukpani Peoplesโ Assembly has called on the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene highway.
The group described its current state as a national disgrace and a threat to lives, commerce, and regional development.
In a press statement issued on Thursday October and jointly signed by Etubom Dr. Nya Asuquo, Chief (Mrs.) Winnifred Oyo Ita, and His Royal Majesty Etinyin Otu Asuquo Otu Meseme VI, the Paramount Ruler of Odukpani, the group said the 100-kilometre federal road linking Cross River and Akwa Ibom States has become a โdeath trapโ and a symbol of government neglect.
The Assembly said that the road, which was originally built in the 1970s to boost trade and connect agricultural communities, has deteriorated to an appalling condition due to years of abandonment and unfulfilled promises.
The statement said the roadโs collapse has crippled economic activities, with travel time between Calabar, Itu, and Ikot Ekpene now stretching from one hour to between four and eight hours.
It added that farmers and traders have suffered huge losses as their goods perish on the way to markets, while transport fares have quadrupled, worsening poverty and food inflation.
The group warned that the roadโs decay contradicts the Federal Governmentโs Renewed Hope Agenda and undermines efforts to improve national productivity.
According to the statement, โThe Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road has become a nightmare of potholes, gullies, and collapsed sections. Farmers watch their produce rot because they cannot access the market.
“Transport costs have gone beyond the reach of the poor, and commuters now face daily trauma navigating through flood-prone and eroded sections. This neglect is a betrayal of our people and a threat to Nigeriaโs economic progress.โ
The group further lamented the human toll of the highwayโs deplorable state, noting that โcountless lives have been lost in accidents caused by failed portions of the road,โ while kidnappers and bandits have turned the area into a haven for criminal activity.
It added that the roadโs condition has become a national security concern, with travelers constantly exposed to danger and prolonged suffering.
The statement acknowledged federal efforts, including the N54 billion contract awarded to Julius Berger in 2020 and another N55 billion awarded to Decon Construction in March 2025, but faulted the pace of work, saying the projects have yielded little visible progress.
It alleged that contractors have abandoned sites due to โmiscommunication, inflation, and unresolved right-of-way issues,โ and expressed disappointment that several intervention promises by the Ministry of Works and the National Assembly have not translated into action.
โThe Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene highway is a key economic corridor, not just for Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, but for the entire South-South and South-East regions. Every day of delay is a day of agony for our people,โ the statement said. โThis is not just a failure of infrastructureโit is a failure of trust.โ
The Calabar-Odukpani Peoplesโ Assembly appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, to treat the project as a national emergency and ensure its immediate completion. The group urged the Federal Government to release adequate funding, enforce strict oversight on contractors, resolve compensation issues affecting communities, and deploy security personnel to protect motorists and workers along the route.
โThe rehabilitation of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road will unlock trade, reduce food inflation, enhance security, and restore confidence in governance,โ the statement said. โWe call on all stakeholdersโthe National Assembly, civil society groups, and the Nigerian publicโto join in holding the government accountable. The people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom deserve better than a road that mocks their resilience.โ
The statement concluded by reaffirming that the “Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road is not merely a regional concern but a national lifeline whose revival would symbolize Nigeriaโs renewed hope and collective progress.”
