Relief for Adiabo-Ikoneto People as Massive Work Commences on Abandoned Road After 33 Years

CALABAR – The people of Adiabo, Eseku and Ikoneto are going to see the development for the first time in 33 years as the Government of Cross River State commenced the construction of 10km Adiabo-Ikoneto Road.

Converseer reports that the road which was flagged off by Governor Bassey Otu in June 2024 has been abandoned since the military regime of Late Gen. Sani Abacha in 1992.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was reportedly mandated by the Federal Government to see to the completion of the road during the advent of democracy but failed.

Governor Otu in his magnanimity decided to take up the mantle to construct the Federal Road which links Calabar, Odukpani and Akwa Ibom State to give the people a shorter route through Tinapa to Okurikang, rather than going over 50 km via the Odukpani Junction.

During a tour on Monday, January 20, led by Think Cross River Group, one of the workers on site who spoke under anonymity told journalists that they are filling the swampy area from the already existing Tinapa Bridge by Adiabo to one of the two new bridges to be constructed in Eseku.

According to the construction worker, by February or March, the road will be linked to one of the new bridges, which is about 2.7km.

“The road is a single way of 7.5m with a width of about 20m and by February or March end, it’ll be linked. We’re currently filling 7 to 9m of sand with over 100 trips per day. We also have started the piling of one of the bridges. From Adiabo Bridge to the other is 2.7km and the entire stretch is full of swamp,” the worker said.

The worker also noted that they have not faced any security challenges, adding that they are using local content and labour from the Adiabo people to work on the road.

Hon. Ankpo Pius Edet, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure (end), addressing Journalists and Think Cross River Initiative team

Speaking shortly after the inspection tour of the ongoing project by journalists led by the Think Cross River Initiative, the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Ankpo Pius Edet, explained that the project was awarded to Zenith Construction Limited in 2024.

According to the Commissioner, the 10km road starts from the Tinapa Bridge in Adiabo area and would terminate at Ikoneto, adding that the project would include the construction of two major bridges and a realignment of the road.

“The major challenge we have here is the swampy area. The place needs to be filled and allowed to cure and set. That’s why we don’t have a definite timeline for the completion. It’s a huge project. We have about 4 or 5km to sand fill to about 3 to 5m of depth. The filling there is massive considering the watery terrain. In the next three or four months we should be able to complete the filling, and then open the road for motorists to drive on to allow it to settle before we bring in laterite and fill it until we get to the level we want.

“I want to commend the Governor for this great initiative. This goes a long way to settle the issue of the state having one way in and one way out. This road will be another way to change that narrative. This government is committed to putting quality infrastructure in place for the benefit of Cross Riverians. Upon completion, the project will reduce the travel distance from Calabar through Odukpani Junction to Okurikang by 30km,” he said.

L-R: Mr Edem Darlington, Convener of Think Cross River Initiative and Deputy Press Secretary to Governor Bassey Otu; and Hon. Ankpo Pius Edet, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure

On his part, the Convener of Think Cross River Initiative, Mr Edem Darlington, told journalists that the road will not only serve the affected communities but the entire people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

Edem who is also the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said so far, the road is one of the largest singular road projects initiated by this administration.

“This road is a major diversion from Calabar to Okurikang, bypassing the traffic-laden Calabar-Itu Road. The road was initiated in 1992 under Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime and was abandoned. Subsequent Federal Administration also abandoned the road but Governor Bassey Otu with his People’s First mantra thought of it to make the people of the area see the light as well as reduce the burden of travelling from Calabar to Akwa Ibom and other parts of the country.

“When completed, it will take Cross Riverians 45 minutes from Calabar to Akwa Ibom but now, it’s about 4 to 6 hours. The road will be well secured and will become one of the major access roads to Calabar,” Darlington remarked.