Lamentation in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom: Abandoned Road Leaves Residents in Distress

Residents along Navy Road in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State, are living a nightmare due to the abandonment of a vital 1.8km road project that was awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) back in 2013. Their plight has spurred a cry for help from the state government as they grapple with the dire condition of this road.

The road project, which connects the jetty to Ibaka – Oron road, was assigned to Messrs Foul Plant Nigeria Limited in 2013, but it allegedly lay dormant after the application of bituminous asphalt. A youth leader from the Ibaka community, Mr. Etim Michael, revealed that the contractor left the project in 2018 after an agonizingly slow pace of work, despite having started the project five years prior.

The incomplete Naval Base access road, linking the Ibaka-Oron access road, has brought severe hardship to residents and commuters who traverse this route, especially during the rainy season. Moreover, it has a crucial security aspect, as a timely response from the Navy, in the event of a security emergency, relies on a well-maintained road infrastructure.

The community has also suffered from a lack of electricity for the past five years. Residents have implored the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to come to their aid in addressing this issue.

Read Also:

• NDDC Probe: Akpabio Dares National Assembly
• UPDATE: Number Of Abandoned Projects In FCT Worrisome – Wike
• Fear Grips Communities Over Renewed Boundary Clash, Alleged Killings

Efforts to get the attention of the state governor, Umo Eno, have proved futile, and youth organizations in the area have struggled to garner the interest of the NDDC in completing the abandoned project. Their pleas for assistance have largely fallen on deaf ears.

A taxi driver, Okokon Emmanuel, who relies on the road from Oron town to Ibaka, stressed the urgency of rehabilitating the 1.8km road, emphasizing that the state government should take action without waiting for the NDDC.

Furthermore, there is a growing call for the newly constituted NDDC board, alongside Akwa Ibom’s own Victor Antai, as the Executive Director of the project, to summon the contractor back to the site. The economic significance of this road to the state is undeniable, and the abandonment of this project is causing tremendous harm to the community.

Victor Onwineng, another resident, proposed the need for a legislative solution to address the issue of contractors abandoning projects. He suggested that the National Assembly should consider enacting laws that could hold such contractors accountable, potentially leading to legal action against those responsible for economic sabotage.

The situation in Ibaka reflects a broader problem in the Niger Delta region, where NDDC projects have been abandoned, hampering the region’s development. The call is clear: urgent attention is needed to address these issues and ensure that the promises made through project awards are fulfilled.