Commuters extol Nigerian Government’s intervention on road infrastructure

The Nigerian Government has been extolled for its interventions on developing road infrastructure, which has enhanced socio-economic activities in Cross River State, southern Nigeria.

A cross section of road users, especially those engaged in commercial transportation and business owners, said the rehabilitation of failed portions of the Calabar – Ikom federal highway as well as the recently commissioned Ikom bridge have reduced travel time from Cross River to northern Nigeria.

In separate interviews with journalists, a commercial driver, Mr. Anthony Innocent said “we ply this road on a daily basis and due to failed portions of the road; we experience hardship because of the wear and tear on our vehicles. But, with the intervention of the federal government, we feel happy because we can take less than two hours to arrive at Ikom from Abi local government area.”

Another respondent, Mrs. Veronica Bassey, who sells food stuff by the road side, said “now that the road rehabilitation has been completed, we are witnessing a rise in the number of customers for our produce. Prior to this time, our sales dropped and we had some losses because people found it difficult to come from the cities to buy food stuff and to make up for loses, we had to increase the cost of the items.

“But, we are okay now that more people can easily stop to buy food stuff, pay reduced cost and take off the produce from our hands. Those that closed down due to huge loses have again commenced trading,” she stressed.

A bus driver, Mr. Ofem Otu had similar experiences saying “before now, we were always repairing our vehicles, spending whatever we make on mechanics. The road is better now and making our vehicles to last longer.  We now use our brake pads for a month before changing; the portion of road between Biase and Ikom local government areas smooth to drive on, which means better profits.”

The respondents, however, appealed for the rehabilitation of the Calabar – Akampka – Biase axis, a damaged spot, which has recently been characterized by abductions of passengers and travelers.

Reacting to the concerns raised by motorists, the Controller of Works in the Federal Ministry of Works, Cross River State, Mr. Kehinde Koya explained that to guarantee accident-free, peaceful and smooth travels during the yuletide, the ministry embarked on rehabilitation of portions of the “Calabar – Ikom road, the Ogoja – Gakem road and Ediba junction as well as the Itigidi – Abomege road.” 

Koya stated; “we needed as a ministry to ensure we intervened on this particular road to enable commuters use the road effectively. The rehabilitation was part of our yearly ember-months repair works in the ministry.”

He promised that before the end of the second quarter of 2023, the ministry would rehabilitate other collapsed portions of Calabar – Ikom highway.