Curbing recurring carnage on Calabar-Itu highway

BY EHIGIMETOR IGBAUGBA 

In 2021, the Federal Government approved the sum of N185 billion for the reconstruction and dualisation of the Calabar-Itu highway. 

The announcement was received with excitement by the people, especially the regular users of the road. 

The Calabar-Itu highway is the only link road between Cross River and its neighboring state, Akwa Ibom; its economic importance is undoubtedly invaluable. 

Worryingly, the road is still in a terrible state of disrepair four years after the contract was awarded–causing great concerns to road users. 

Commuters lament that a journey of less than two hours takes almost forever. 

Several lives and property have been lost on the collapsed highway that has also become a den for armed robbers as well as kidnappers. 

The increasingly perilous state of the road has posed a grave challenge to commuters between both states in spite of yearly assurances of intervention by the government. 

Within the period under review, accidents have claimed many lives on the Calabar-Itu road constructed in the 70s and the only road linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. 

Weighing in on the situation, Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River said that the economy of the state had been adversely affected by the deplorable road. 

Otu fingered “economic saboteurs” as to the reason why the Calabar-Itu road had not received the desired attention. 

According to him, the problem of that road is bigger than the state. 

“There is nothing I have not done to see that the road is fixed; I accepted to pay compensation amidst the state’s scarce resources. 

“I see that a lot of people do not want that road done; we are however not going to rest until something concrete is done on that road. 

“If not for the several interventions we have done on that road, it would have been completely impassable,” he said. 

In addition, the Cross River South Consultative Forum (CRSCF) described the deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu federal highway as a death trap to road users. 

Presenting the position of the forum, its Chairman, Eyo Nsa Ekpo, recounted the ordeal of the people of both Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. 

“What was once a vital trade route is now a gauntlet of potholes, eroded sections, and collapsed portions, turning journeys that should take minutes into hours-long ordeals. 

“The rainy season has transformed the highway into a muddy quagmire, rendering stretches of it completely impassable. 

“Commuters face agonising delays, transporters grapple with vehicle breakdowns and lost revenue, and accidents, often fatal, have become tragically commonplace.’’ 

He said that businesses were collapsing under the weight of increased transportation costs. 

According to him, farmers struggle to get their produce to market, and essential services are disrupted. 

“The economic fallout is severe, but the human cost is even greater. 

Sick individuals, pregnant women, and accident victims endure unimaginable suffering as they try to access medical care. 

“The road’s perilous state has also emboldened criminals, who prey on stranded motorists,” he said. 

More so, an articulated vehicle driver, Adamu Umar, described the road as a nightmare for motorists. 

He said that the poor state of the road had made motorists regular visitors at mechanics workshops in addition to the daily mishap on the route. 

Worthy of recall, the approval by former President Muhammadu Buhari led administration was to reconstruct and dualise the highway through the tax credit scheme. 

The scheme was to cost the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) N185 billion for the construction and dualisation of the Calabar-Itu highway. 

The amount was part of the N600bn raised through the tax credit scheme by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to fund critical infrastructure across the country. 

Sen. Ita Enang, erstwhile Senior Special Assistant to President on Niger Delta Affairs, had reaffirmed the desire of the administration to put an end to commuters suffering on that road. 

He explained that the project was awarded in three phases: Julius Berger received N54 billion; the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company was awarded N52 billion, while SEMATECH got N79bn for road construction and the building of four bridges. 

He said that the construction had commenced on the axis between Odukpani in Cross River State and Ibiono in Akwa Ibom. 

Enang attributed the delay in the construction of the road to lack of funds. 

He had assured that with the funds readily available, the project would be completed with dualised carriage by April 2023. 

“We have been having problems getting funding for the road, but the president has asked me to assure you that we raised money from the tax credit window from the Federal Inland Revenue Service to the NNPC to fund critical infrastructure. 

“Out of the over N600billion raised from NNPC as tax credit, a great part that is N185 billion has been dedicated to this road; the road was awarded in three tranches. 

“The first money that was available was N54 billion and was for Julius Berger, N52 billion to CCECC and the last N79 billion to SEMATECH engineering. 

“This road was designed for dualisation in 1972 and only one lane of the four lanes was constructed believing that others would be constructed. 

“Thank God, Buhari has started constructing other lanes with four bridges, and he has promised to complete it within the time frame,” Enang said. 

He urged the people to be patient and cooperative with contractors handling the project. 

Four years down the lane, it seems there is no respite for the road users whose hopes were raised with the announcement. 

With only some sessions of the roads completed by the various contractors handling the project, there has been no reduction in the number of carnage on the road, while commuters still bear the unending hours of commuting between the two states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom. 

The present administration has also given the same assurance of completing the reconstruction and dualisation work. 

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who gave the assurance, warned contractors like SEMATECH to accelerate their work or face contract termination. 

He attributed the issue of funding and timely payment to contractors as some of the reasons affecting the pace of work. 

Umahi also said factors like the rainy season had worsened the road conditions, making it almost impassable in some areas. 

He said squatters along the highway corridor posed another challenge, with the government set to dislodge them for the project’s completion “President Bola Tinubu’s administration has expressed commitment to improving Nigeria’s infrastructure, including the Calabar-Itu road. 

“The government aims to enhance connectivity across the country through projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and others,’’ he said. 

Worthy of note, Otu has approved N400 million to settle compensation issues on the Cross River side of the highway to pave way for seamless construction work by the contractors handling the project. 

Moreover, a group, under the aegis of Who is Who Forum in Northern Cross River, has called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to take drastic action to prevent the same from being cut-off from the rest of the country. 

Dormkclaimz Enamhe, Convener, and Johnny Again, Co-Convener, called on the Federal Government to curb the unending carnage on the Calabar-Itu road. 

The group said that the government needed to ensure timely completion of the reconstruction project. 

“This can be achieved by providing adequate funding and ensuring timely payment to contractors, accelerating the pace of work and addressing environmental challenges. 

“The government should also dislodge squatters along the highway corridor to facilitate project completion, and improve road maintenance and infrastructure to prevent future deterioration. 

“By addressing these challenges and ensuring the project’s timely completion, the government can reduce the risk of accidents and improve the quality of life for commuters and residents in the region,” he said. 

Going by its strategic importance, stakeholders say the Calabar-Itu highway, which links two oil producing states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom, deserves serious attention in order to avoid further loss of lives.