Residents of Ikwuano Local Government Area in Abia State took to the streets on Thursday to stage a peaceful protest against the prolonged delay in completing the reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road.
This crucial route connects Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states but has remained in disrepair for over five years, despite being awarded to Heartland Construction Company.
During the protest, residents expressed frustration over the hardship caused by the road’s poor condition.
Speaking to journalists, Ambrose Jonah criticized the slow pace of work and called on the Federal Ministry of Works to accelerate the project and ensure adequate funding for the contractor.
“This road was meant to be completed in three years, but five years have passed, and only about 20 per cent of the work has been done. Our appeal to the Federal Government is simple: this is an important trunk road leading to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, housing two public universities, a private university, and a research institute. The current state of the road is unacceptable, and immediate action is required before the next rainy season,” Jonah said.
Another protester, Rapture Ndubuisi-Ejim from Ogbuebule Oboro, described the road as a “death trap” and warned that further delays could lead to a complete breakdown of the route.
“If no significant progress is made this dry season, the road may split into two, leaving us with no option but to fly to our villages. The deplorable state of this road is affecting our economic lives. Transportation costs are skyrocketing, vehicles are breaking down regularly, and travel during the rainy season is a nightmare,” Ndubuisi-Ejim stated. He also accused the Federal Government of neglect and urged the Ministry of Works to prioritize the project. “We are not asking for much; we just want this road fixed before the rains return,” he added.
In response, the project manager, Egner Velya, cited funding constraints from the Federal Ministry of Works as the primary reason for the delay.
“We can only work based on the budgetary approvals from our clients. Rising costs of raw materials have necessitated a review of our contract. From a technical standpoint, it’s possible to complete the work in one dry season, but this depends on the financial allocations from the ministry,” Velya explained.
He assured residents that temporary measures would be taken within a week to improve the road’s condition during the festive period.
“Our equipment will be deployed to fix the worst sections of the road before Christmas. However, the state government must help us clear illegal structures on the Ihie Ndume axis to enable proper drainage and road expansion to federal standards,” he added.
The Federal Controller of Works in Abia State, Tony Onwubiko, confirmed that the project’s progress hinges on funding availability.
“The Federal Government is aware of the situation. Once funds are released, work on the road will resume in full swing,” Onwubiko said.
