The group described the 100-kilometre stretch linking Cross River and Akwa Ibom States as a “vital artery of Nigeria’s economy” …
By Emmanuel Ita
The Calabar-Odukpani Peoples’ Assembly has issued a strong call to the Federal Government to urgently fix the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene highway, describing the dilapidated federal road as a “national disgrace” and “a lifeline in distress.”
In a press statement released on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and signed by prominent leaders including former Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda, Etubom Dr Nya Asuquo; former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Chief Winnifred Oyo Ita; and the Paramount Ruler of Odukpani, HRM Etinyin Otu Asuquo Otu Meseme VI (JP), the Assembly lamented the federal government’s persistent neglect of the road, which they said has become a death trap and an epicentre of insecurity.
The group described the 100-kilometre stretch linking Cross River and Akwa Ibom States as a “vital artery of Nigeria’s economy” that has been reduced to gullies, potholes, and collapsed sections, severely impacting trade, agriculture, and transportation across the South-South and South-East regions.
“The Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene federal highway remains a national disgrace, mired in neglect, broken promises, and bureaucratic inertia,” the statement read. “It is a betrayal of our people and a threat to Nigeria’s economic progress. Immediate action is non-negotiable.”
The Assembly noted that, despite several federal interventions—including a ₦54 billion contract awarded to Julius Berger in 2020 and another ₦55 billion to Decon Construction in March 2025—progress on the project remains abysmally slow, with contractors abandoning sites and construction reportedly at just 22 per cent in some sections.
“Contractors have cited miscommunication and right-of-way disputes while communities continue to suffer,” the group said, warning that the continued delay has resulted in economic stagnation, increased transport costs, and loss of lives.
Highlighting the human cost of the neglect, the Assembly recounted frequent accidents, kidnappings, and loss of farm produce along the route. “Every day of delay is a day of agony for our people, a stain on the conscience of our nation,” the statement added.
The group outlined five key demands to the Federal Government, including immediate full funding for the completion of the dualization project, strict oversight and accountability for contractors, resolution of land compensation issues, improved security along the route, and the expedited adoption of a rigid pavement design to ensure durability.
They also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, and the National Assembly Committees on Works to take decisive action, stressing that rehabilitating the road would “unlock trade, reduce food inflation, enhance security, and restore hope to millions.”
“The Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road is not just a Cross River or Akwa Ibom problem—it is a national crisis,” the statement declared. “We call on President Tinubu to honour his administration’s commitment to infrastructure as a cornerstone of progress. Our people deserve better than a road that mocks their resilience.”
The Assembly urged civil society organisations, lawmakers, and the Nigerian public to join in demanding accountability and transparency in the project’s execution, insisting that the long-neglected road should become a symbol of the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and not a monument to government failure.