By Akpan David, Calabar
Armed robbers and other miscreants are daily killing maiming and harassing road users, including stranded passengers, oil tanker drivers and other motorists who are held up for several hours at the completely impassable Odukpani axis of the Calabar-Uyo federal highway.
For two days, four road users have been reported killed by daredevil robbers at the spot where many spend number of days and nights at one spot.
The robbers yesterday were reported to have maimed two more women passengers who after being dispossessed of their valuables were beaten to stupor.
An oil truck driver, Ibrahim Audu said, “I have been at this spot for two days now. I lifted my allocation for Port Harcourt in Rivers State but here I am still standing. Meanwhile, I have lost two tyres in this very terrible road when I meandered into a wide gallop.
“Yesterday I was attacked by boys armed with shotguns, knives and clubs. They collected our monies. All the drivers here have suffered same fate”, he said.
A passenger, Bassey Cornelius who recently plied the route from Uyo to Calabar in his car, which in normal circumstance, is about one hour drive when the road is smooth, said he spent eight hours. This very deplorable road has seriously affected movement of goods and humans.
“Help us plead with the government to fix this road once and for all like they are doing in other states. The suffering is too much on us, he said.
Reacting, the federal controller of works in the state, Engineer Bassey Nsentip regretted the ordeal Nigerians are presently passing through on the said road.
He disclosed in an interview that contract for the reconstruction of the road has been approved by the federal government.
He attributed commencement and completion of works on many deplorable federal highways in the country to perennial procurement technicalities.
He said apart from procurement difficulties the rains have also affected commencement of works but that palliative works has now started to enable the people move.
He said they will dualise the Calabar-Uyo federal highway as contract has been awarded to Julius Berger.
“The people should hope for a dualized road very soon because the federal government has already awarded contract for the Odukpani -Uyo highway.
He said: “There are a few procurement technicalities that have hindered commencement of work on the federal highways.
“However, procurement foemalities are just being finalized for the Calabar-Uyo on that second part of the road. Very soon, people will see the contractors coming to site to work.”
“However, with the rains we can not do full construction work and that is why you are not seeing active construction activities going-on on site.
“Since people have to use the road and it is very bad, we are trying to do some remedial work. Right now, Julius Berger is already working doing some palliatives on the Akwa Ibom stretch of the road. If you have been there recently, you will notice that some parts of the road, which were extremely bad are now accessible. With the progress, it is coming to the Cross River end too.”
Nsentip recalled that funds have been a major challenge at the initial stage, it is being handled.
