By Israel Umoh
Adorning both sides of the road are storey buildings, Deeper Life Bible Church, New Faith in Christ Church, residential buildings standing at the mercy of the excavated site.
Within the site were some staffers of Nsik Engineering Construction Company donned in the company’s aprons. More than five of them paraded around the parked bus with insignia: ‘‘Government of Akwa Ibom State.’’
Four staffers of the company were struggling to bind rods for the manhole linked to the pipe jacking project. As soon as the torrential rain pounded the vicinity, they quickly deserted the area while the ‘angry’ rain water snaked through it and dug the subsoil, the more.
Speaking to Straightnews team, Mrs Etimbuk Benson, an Education-turned business woman, decried the slow pace of work on the project.
Related post: A Nightmare called Afaha Ube Itam Road (1)
Mrs Benson who owns Iset Alpha at Nwut Usiong community noted that the closure of the business has adversely affected her business.
A dealer in drinks and water, she narrated that before November 2023, she used to sell at least one pack of water in a day since it was a young business.
“Before the construction work started in June 2024, I used to sell 101 packs in a week, but now I rarely sell 16 packs in a week since excavation started. I want to appeal to the government and contractors to speed up the work to ensuring opening of the closed highway.””
Solomon Etuk, a tailor lamented too how the closure of the highway has affected his business.
“Most of my customers do not come here again. They complain of lack of access to come in and park their cars. At times, I visit them in Osong Ama, Shelter Afrique and other parts of Uyo to get job.
“I want to appeal to the state government to expedite action on the completion of the road to enable us to boost our businesses.”
Joseph Udofia, a landlord in Nwut Usiong community, was furious over the negative impact of the closure has had on the commuters and residents in the area.
“Since the closure of the highway in May this year, many businesses have folded up due to poor or lack of patronage. Josena Supermarket is affected and many others. Long distance bus drivers from Calabar have to meander through the rickety roads used as diversion to Itam or any other park.
‘‘Tricycle operators coming from Itu via Ntak Inyang axis have to stop on this side of the divide, offload and load passengers, then return. Those coming from the axis of Ikot Oku Ikono flyover, IBB, Atiku Abubakar Avenue, stop on this side and return via Itam Main market to their routes.”
Among businesses affected by the road closure at Nwut Usiong community are Josena Supermarket, Topfeeds, Grand Malt/Champion depot, West Itam Primary Health Centre, filling stations, and The Apostolic Church, Church of Christ, among others.
But, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga said that the 12 meter deep Tabernacle Underground drainage project running across the Calabar-Itu Highway connecting the pipe jacking trough would be ready by December 2024.
The commissioner confirmed this in an interaction with journalists during his on-the-spot assessment of the project on Saturday, October 19.
Ibanga who was accompanied by consultant engineers and project managers from his ministry mandated the contractors- Nsik Engineering Ltd- to do everything possible to ensure the delivery of the project by December for free flow of traffic along the highway.
“This is a highly technical job and safety is important. It is a bit more difficult because we are battling with climate change and the excessive rains have affected the pace of work. Before we can cast we have to take away the waters and desilt the trough.
“We will have manhole at different low points around this area to this underground drainage to ensure efficient discharge of flood from all the surrounding environs into the drainage system. Before the end of this month the casting will be completed, and we will restore the road,” he stated.
Ibanga dismissed the speculations that the contractor has failed, and announced that the project consultant and project Engineers are assigned to every government project and they report to the site each day to ensure the contractor is working according to specifications, adding that work has never stopped on the project.
The Works Commissioner who also addressed residents of the affected areas regretted the poor state of some adjoining roads in the area, assuring them of the government willingness to bring succour to them at the shortest possible time.
“The important thing for now is how we can handle the flood challenge and rid Tabernacle Road, Nelson Mandela Road, among others of the incessant flooding, so that most people who had migrated from those communities can start returning to their homes,” he added.
Responding, the Contractor handling the drainage project, Elder Nsikak Johnny Of Nsik Engineering Ltd, stressed that the company has the needed equipment, experience and expertise to deliver the project notwithstanding the menace caused by frequent rains.
“Most times, we are slowed down by the ceaseless downpour and have to work round the clock pumping out rain water from the drainage, desilt sand and continue casting. The consultant working with us is one of the best in the state. We follow strict Engineering instructions and specifications”
According to him, “the Tabernacle Road project is a major de-flooding work to reclaim the entire area and provide respite for thousands of residents in Uyo and Itu Local Government Areas.
The actual construction of the 2.2km adjoining Tabernacle road project will commence once the 0.97Km underground drainage is completed.
In fact, the project needs rescue operation spiced with remediation, re-contouring, and re-grading of the excavation walls including construction of appropriate concrete channels, fashion structures and interceptor with covered drains to flush out ferocious rainwater into the trough.
Without such, the Commissioner’s pledge to inaugurate the project by January 2025 will be a mirage and the residents will continue to wait for solution with bated breath amid the nightmare called Afaha Ube Itam Road.
Concluded
