Slow pace of road building stalls activities in Eket community
The slow pace of work on Ofriyo-Ikot Ekpene Udo road has stalled commercial activities at Ofriyo community in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The construction was kicked
The slow pace of work on Ofriyo-Ikot Ekpene Udo road has stalled commercial activities at Ofriyo community in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The construction was kicked off two years ago by Governor Umo Eno. The road is to link up the oil city of Eket with Ikot Ekpene Udo, the hometown of Governor Eno and from there to Uyo, the capital city.
However, residents of Ofriyo have l amented that their hitherto boisterous business community has been adversely affected by the delay in the completion of the road.
The road project, which was officially earmarked to be completed within a year, has remained uncompleted, leaving residents and business owners in the area frustrated.
Members of the community complained that following the demolition of shops and houses to make way for the road construction, the area has become deserted.
They said many residents and traders, whose properties were affected by the project, have yet to receive compensation, while very few people have been paid, thereby worsening the economic hardship in the community.
Leaders of the community appealed to Governor Eno to ensure affected property owners are compensated and that contractors, Amitech Construction and Development Nigeria Limited, are mobilised back to the site to complete the project.
Messrs. Uwem Akpan, Isaac Udo and Victor Inyang, who conducted The Nation round the road, said the project had been stalled for more than two years after initial grading works were carried out.
They said the delay has severely affected economic activities in the area, as businesses have been forced to close and commuters now face difficulties using the road.
The community leaders noted that Ofriyo–Ikot Ekpene Udo Road is the only visible government project in Eket, despite their huge support for him, and urged the governor to prioritise its completion.
They called on the governor to intervene quickly and ensure contractors return to the site before the onset of the rainy season, warning that further delays could worsen the condition of the road and prolong the suffering of residents and business owners in the area.
