A’Ibom communities lament lack of access roads, erosion

TRACKING >>Ekpri Nsukara, Ikot Ntuen and Ikot Anyang villages, all in Uyo local government area of Akwa Ibom state, have lamented the lack of access roads to their communities despite their closeness to the state capital.

To worsen their plight, the communities are also plagued by incidents of flood, which ravages farmlands and destroy lives and properties each time it rains.

The youth leader of one of the villages, Obong Emem Asikpo in a chat with the Nation in Uyo, said there are no roads linking Ekpri Nsukara to neighbouring communities within Uyo.

Asikpo, who disclosed that they have already sent a ‘Save Our Soul (SOS) message to the state government called on government to construct the Ekpri Nsukara/Ikot Ntuen Offot road, a major access road to Ekpri Nsukara and its neighbouring communities including, Ikot Ntuen, Ikot Anyang, which terminates at a river linking Uruan.

He said that residents normally find it extremely difficult to move in and out of the area whenever it rains because of the volume of water that empties into people’s houses and business premises.

He said school children cannot access the only school in the community during the rainy season.

He called on Governor Udom Emmanuel to come to their aid by directing that the road be fixed to enable easy movement in and out of the community.

“Ekpiri Nsukara road is in bad shape and we are using this medium to appeal to His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to help us fix this road.

“As you can see, the people living in this area cannot access their houses when it rains. We are really suffering here.

“This road is a major challenge to us, and we are hopeful that our dear Governor will wipe away our tears,” Asikpo said.

Another resident, Mr. Diamond Akpanika, said the non-availability of a major linking road between Ekpiri-Nsukara and the rest of the communities has made life unbearable for residents.

Akpanika who is the Secretary, Association of Landlords of Ikot Ntuen Offot, recalled how attempts by the previous government to fix the road was later abandoned half way without explanation to residents on may have been the cause.

“A contractor, CCECC was given the job to construct the road. That was in 2008/2009, but the contractor stopped work somewhere.

”The level of rain water that sweeps across this area can sweep children away.

“Heavy trucks pass through this road to Ikot Ntuen and Ikot Anyan where white sand and red sand are excavated for construction work”.

Akpanika disclosed that Ikot Ntuen Village Council and Landlords and had written two separate ‘Save Our Soul” letters to the Governor through the Ministry of Works in April 2018 where the attention of government was drawn to their plight, saying they were hopeful that something would be done about the road by the government