- …declares national emergency on the road
By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Members of the Joint National Assembly Committee on Works have described the Calabar–Itu Road as a “national emergency,” vowing to take legislative action to address its prolonged neglect and ensure accountability in its rehabilitation.
Speaking during an oversight visit to Cross River State, the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, said the road stands out as “one of the worst” federal highways in the country, despite its strategic economic importance to the South-South and other parts of Nigeria.
“This road is a national emergency,” Alabi declared. “We have seen too many inconsistencies, from the termination of the initial contract with a U.S. firm to its re-award to Sermatec, and now a change of scope from asphalt to concrete pavement. This project has suffered from confusion for too long, and we cannot continue this way.”
Alabi explained that the Committee’s visit formed part of a nationwide oversight tour to assess federal road projects and ongoing interventions by the Federal Ministry of Works. He disclosed that the National Assembly would soon convene a public hearing on the project to ensure transparency and accountability.
According to him, the hearing will bring together all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Works, contractors, Cross River State Government officials, the media, and civil society organisations, to collectively find a lasting solution.
“We are determined to find a lasting solution. The legislature will play its role to ensure this road is fixed,” he assured.
The Calabar–Itu Road is a vital federal artery linking Cross River to Akwa Ibom and other parts of the country. Its current condition has caused serious disruptions to trade, industrial operations, and the smooth transportation of goods and services across the region.
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey, had earlier called on the Federal Government to treat the road’s rehabilitation as an “economic emergency.”
He stressed that the deplorable state of the road affects both human movement and commercial activities, especially for industries such as Lafarge Cement Company, whose trucks face daily difficulties transporting goods.
Governor Otu reaffirmed the state’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to improve infrastructure and stimulate economic growth.
Among those present at the meeting were Senator Rufai Hanga, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works; Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South Senatorial District; and other distinguished members of the Joint National Assembly Committee on Works.
