By Onwa Ekor
Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has assured protesting youths of Ikom-Boki axis that his administration will partner with the federal government to urgently address the deplorable condition of the Ikom-Wula-Obudu federal road.
The assurance followed a peaceful protest by youths from Ikom, Etung, Boki, Obanliku and Obudu local government areas over the deteriorating state of the critical 120-kilometre corridor.
Speaking through the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Pius Edet, who addressed the demonstrators at the protest scene, Otu urged the youths to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that government was already aware of their plight and working toward lasting solutions.
“I am here at the instance of the governor who directed me to come and see things for myself, having watched on television and social media the protest over the deteriorating state of this road,” Edet said.
“This is not artificial intelligence; it is real that the road is so bad. I can feel the pains and understand why the people came out to protest. It is touching that in this century, people would still be experiencing this.”
The Commissioner, who was accompanied by the State Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, admitted that the governor was deeply moved by the condition of the road, especially considering the strong electoral support the area gave to both him and President Bola Tinubu during the last general elections.
According to Edet, “the state government recognizes the strategic importance of the road, which cuts across five local government areas and serves as a vital economic artery linking Cross River to Benue and other northern states.”
He, however, emphasized that the road is a federal highway and requires collaborative intervention.
“There is need for both the state and federal governments to partner on the reconstruction of this road to ameliorate the plight of our people.
“Even without the protest, we knew this road exists. It is lengthy — about 120 kilometres — and far above the intervention capacity of the state government, considering our lean resources,” Edet said
The Works Commissioner recalled that in 2024, the state government undertook palliative measures to make the road temporarily passable, but noted that heavy usage and rainfall had worsened its condition.
“I can imagine what people go through here — pregnant women suffering complications, trucks overturning, goods spilling, road crashes, and declining economic activities. After receiving my report, the governor will certainly issue further directives to cushion your plight,” he assured.
Appealing for continued peace, Edet said: “Please, be calm. You have expressed your displeasure through a peaceful protest, and we appreciate that. Let nobody push you into truncating the wish of government to come to your aid.”
Highlighting Governor Otu’s track record, the Commissioner described him as a “talk-and-do governor,” pointing to the ongoing Boki East-West Road project and other infrastructure works in Ikom and across the state as evidence of his administration’s commitment to equitable development.
Also speaking, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang commended the youths for maintaining decorum during the protest.
He pledged that the governor would not only attempt immediate intervention but also intensify pressure on the federal government for a comprehensive reconstruction of the corridor in line with its regional and economic significance.
“As a son of the soil, I am deeply saddened by the state of this road,” Ekpang said.
“The negative impact will be worse if nothing is done before the next wet season. Government will act and also press for a standard road befitting this strategic corridor,” Ekpang assured.
Earlier, the leader of the protesting youths, Dr. Martins Assam, clarified that the demonstration was not politically motivated but driven by the alarming number of deaths, occasioned by accidents being recorded on the road.
“This protest is borne out of pain and repeated casualties after years of waiting without meaningful intervention,” he said.
Other speakers decried the economic losses suffered by residents despite the significant revenue generated from timber, food and cash crops in the axis. They also called on government to scrutinize the activities of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, alleging that the agency sometimes erects signage indicating completed works where little or nothing has been done.
The protest ended with renewed assurances from the state government that it would engage the appropriate federal authorities and pursue a partnership framework to ensure that the Ikom-Wula-Boki federal road receives the urgent and lasting attention it deserves.
