Federal and State Legislators inspect collapsed portion on calabar – Ikom road (3/6/08)

Some members of the State and National Assemblies from Cross River State were part of Governor’s entourage that took an on the spot assessment of the collapsed culvert across Adebianga River, Alesi in Ikom Local Government Area along Calabar – Ikom Highway.

The Senator representing the Central Senatorial District and Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, (SAN) described the situation as unfortunate because Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) should have seen it coming, adding that except for its name, the agency is non existent in the State.

Ndoma-Egba lamented that though the Federal Government had expended N400 million on the rehabilitation of the Calabar-Ikom Road through FERMA nothing was seen on the ground as evidence, adding that this Agency is incompetent and incapable of meeting the maintenance needs of the road as at now.

The Senator said the scope of work given to the Agency is extensive and that it does not have the capacity to intervene, stressing that those of them in the National Assembly will continue to draw the attention of Federal Government to the State as the worst portion of the road is located within his Senatorial District and suggested that Federal Government should involve States in the rehabilitation of Federal Roads because FERMA does not exist in Cross River.

He stated that the road was constructed in 1973 and the metal culverts had their life span with a time frame and should be replaced.

Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw representing the Southern Senatorial District and Cross River National Assembly members caucus leader said he is disappointed and frustrated with the road as its condition is a reflection of the attitude from the Federal Government which is total neglect, emphasizing that Calabar Ikom Road has been cut into two while Calabar – Itu Road is facing a threat of being cut into three portions.

According to Henshaw, these roads are major gateways to Calabar and if the roads are cut off, the State capital will be isolated while tourists to the State will not have access to sites across the State, saying that though much money is said to have been expended on the rehabilitation of these roads, such money has gone down the drains.

A member of the House of Representatives representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, Hon. John Eno Owan said work on the road was beyond patching but needed a total reconstruction because the road is 35 years old.

Owan blamed the Federal Government for giving the rehabilitation of the road to an unknown company which has prompted communities where it cuts through to call for its replacement because of incompetence, stressing that the collapse has not only affected the economic life of the State but the whole of the eastern flank of the country which calls for a prompt attention to have in good shape.

He frowned at the idea where contractors with no track records are always sent to Cross River to experiment their competence which in effect does not augur well for the State.

Other members of National Assembly on the entourage include Hon. Paul Adah, Bassey Otu, Bassey Eno Ewa and speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Adah and his Deputy Hon. Dominic Aqua were amongst other members.

Government House Press