Controversy has trailed the construction of the Calabar Itu highway linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River States following the abandonment of the project by the contractors raising fears whether contract was awarded in the first place.
Weeks before the last general elections, it was announced that contract for the construction of the highway had been awarded and later some equipment were moved to the site.
But months later, checks have revealed that the contractors had since moved their equipment from the construction site as business travelers between the two states spend hours before reaching their destinations.
It was gathered that instead of awarding contract for the road project, it was the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) that was assigned the responsibility of handling the rehabilitation of the 100 km road.
According to Ephraim Inyangeyen, Akwa Ibom State commissioner for works, the Calabar Itu highway does not require remedial work rather it needs a full fledge reconstruction.
Speaking during a joint inspection of the project with the works committee of the state house of assembly, Inyangeyen insisted that the road has expired adding that \any remedial process that would be put into the road would not last for two months.
He said instead of wasting resources, the lawmakers should appeal to the federal government and state government to reconstruct the road.
The Works boss made this statement during a joint inspection of Calabar Itu highway road with the Works Committee leader of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. David Lawrence.
Inyangeyen described Calabar-itu highway as being in a deplorable state adding that the road construction has been approved by the state government but was being delayed.
The chairman House Committee for works, David Lawrence said the current state of the road was affecting the economic activities in the area as the road connects Akwa Ibom state with the neighbouring state (Cross River).
The committee appealed to the state government to intervene. They said the intervention should be done based on available resources for the safety of the people pointing out that there will be a resolution urging the Federal government to mobilise contractors to site.
They commended Inyangeyen for his proactive measures to be with them to assess the deplorable condition of the road.
A community leader of Enen Atai-itam Iwatt Nkereuwem thanked the commissioner for the coming to the area to inspect the road project and appealed that the state government should come to their aid.
The Commissioner’s team also visited Uyo/Ikot Ekpene dualized road to see the safety measures that will be installed to prevent accident as directed by the state government due to frequent occurrence of accident on the road.
