Aniefiok Christopher
Motorists, business owners and residents of Ikpa Road, Udoette, Uko Eshiet and adjoining streets linking Uyo with Itu Local Government Area have decried the deplorable state of roads in the area, calling on the State Government for urgent intervention.
The community members raised the concern recently when our correspondent visited the area, alleging that the area hosting the University of Uyo Town Campus all the way to the popular Etaha Itam Market and the Central Motor Park has long been neglected by successive administrations in the state.
Speaking on the state of roads, a native of Ikot Abasi Itam in Itu Local Government Area, Obong Idong Dan explained that the situation has impacted negatively on the economic lives of the people, and therefore called on Governor Umo Eno to fullfil his electioneering promises when he visited the area ahead of the 2023 governorship polls.
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The community leader explained that Itam Park Road leading to Itam Police Station and the adjoining streets are usually submerged by flood whenever it rains.
He, therefore, called on the State Road Maintenance Agency and the State Ministry of Works to fix these roads and properly link them up to ongoing drainage project along Calabar Itu Way.
According to him, community efforts in the past have yielded little or no results in tackling the bad road situation in the area, hence his appeal for a holistic approach to address the concern on some of the roads of which he said dates back to ex-Governor Victor Attah led administration.
Speaking in the same vein, Elder Ini Edem residing at Nelson Mandela Street, said the situation of the streets off Calabar-Itu Federal HighWay is appalling.
According to him, Tabernacle Street, Okon Mbaba and Uko Eshiet are usually “no go area whenever it rains.”
Comment from residents of Ikpa Road, where the University of Uyo Town Campus is located was not different. A motorist who simply identified himself as Prince Anietie admitted that the deplorable state of the road has affected their transport businesses and the students’ environment.
Mr Anietie explained that the situation has exposed them to be visiting their mechanics on a regular basis and this has led to an increase in the cost of transport fares around these areas, especially during the rainy season.
Speaking further, the motorist maintained that the situation has forced lots of people who hitherto, were residents of the area to relocate, especially students. “We are therefore calling on the State Government to come to our aid.”
On her part, Miss Deborah Ekpenyong, a food vendor who resides at Udoette Street hinted that the diversion caused by ongoing drainage project currently being handled by Hensek Construction Company has worsened the condition of the streets in the area.
She, therefore, appealed to the State Government to expedite action on the project to restore normalcy in the area.
Efforts to speak with the staffers of the construction firm on the level of work done and the expected time of delivery were unsuccessful, with the site manager referring our correspondent to the State Ministry of Works, claiming that he was unauthorized to speak.
