A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Monday Ubani has appealed to President Bola Tinubu for urgent intervention over the abandoned Ikwuano/Ikot Ekpene Road which was awarded by the immediate past administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari.
In a letter which was also copied to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, Ubani, a native of Ikwuano in Abia state said the road has become a ‘death trap’.
He wrote “I write with deep concern and a heavy heart on behalf of the citizens of Ikwuano Local Government Area in Abia State, and indeed the people of both Abia and Akwa Ibom States, to call for your urgent intervention in the Ikwuano/Ikot Ekpene Road construction project, which has regrettably been abandoned after several years of false hopes.
The road project was awarded in 2019 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and under the supervision of the then Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. The contract was awarded to Hartland Construction Company at a cost running into several billions of Naira. Owing to funding delays from the Federal Government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at some point commendably took over the financial responsibility. We all celebrated this intervention with high hopes that the project would finally be completed.
However, six years later, the project remains stalled. In a bid to understand the cause of the slow progress, I personally paid several visits to the contractor, Hartland Construction Company. On different occasions, they cited varying reasons: sometimes funding issues, and at other times, they blamed the heavy rains. They consistently promised that after the rainy season of last year, they would resume fully and complete the project. Unfortunately, after the rains subsided, the pace of work was not only slow but eventually came to a complete halt.
This road, which is a major link between Abia and Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, has become a death trap. Accidents have become frequent and fatal. The road is nearly impassable, especially during the rainy season, and the impact on commerce, agriculture, education, and the general well-being of our people is devastating. For over twenty years, our people have endured unbearable suffering on this route. Today, we feel clearly disadvantaged and neglected, and the condition is no longer palatable.
We can no longer remain silent while other regions receive swift attention on similar projects. The people of Ikwuano, and indeed all road users between Abia and Akwa Ibom, Cross River demand with due respect, immediate government intervention. We implore Your Excellency to urgently direct the relevant authorities, especially the Minister of Works to investigate and resolve whatever is stalling progress and ensure the immediate resumption and completion of this vital project that of great economic importance to the region and Nigeria generally.
We are confident in your leadership and your commitment to equitable infrastructure development across Nigeria through your Renewed Hope Agenda. The people of Ikwuano will be eternally grateful if your administration addresses this critical matter before the rains return and worsen an already dire situation. Your love for Nigeria and Nigerians is appreciated.
Thank you, Your Excellency, for your anticipated attention and decisive action”.
