Aba-Ikot Ekpene highway worsens as FG stands against concession

The condition of Aba-Ikot Ekpene highway which links Abia State and Akwa Ibom State covering a distance of less than 80 kilometres has become a source of worry to commuters and business travelers. This is even as the Federal Government has disapproved the construction of the road by Akwa Ibom State government under concession agreement.

The road is a major link between entrepreneurs in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State and the market in Akwa Ibom State while also serving as the major artery for the evacuation of marine resources like fish, periwinkle and crayfish from the coastline communities in the state.

The road has been in a state of disrepair for years following long time neglect after it was first constructed several decades ago.

Due to the poor state of the road, business travelers now seek alternative routes to reach Abia State. Checks reveal that apart from the rehabilitated section of the East West road that links Rivers and Akwa Ibom State, other access roads to the state including Itu-Calabar highway as well as a section of the road between Akwa Ibom and Ukwa East in Abia State have also collapsed.

Reacting to the poor state of the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State expressed worry over the delay by the Federal Government in granting the concession of the road saying it would have allowed the state government to partner with construction firms for its rehabilitation. According to him, the partnership will enable the state government to repair the road and erect toll gates for the collection of their investment.

“I have applied to the Federal Government to hand over the road traversing Aba, Ikot Ekpene and Calabar to enable me partner a private investor who will repair the road and erect toll gate to recover the investment,’’ the governor said. Governor Emmanuel stated this when he addressed a cross section of Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim people at Christ The King Parish, Odoro Ikot in Essien Udim local government area during the Silver Jubilee celebration of the church.

He said the Federal Government instead of granting the application has announced that the road has been captured in next year’s budget and has been earmarked for construction and urged the people to continue to exercise patience until the road is repaired as promised by the Federal Government. The state government said it spent over N140 billion in the construction of federal roads in the state during the last couple years adding that the money has yet to be refunded to its coffers.