SENATOR AKON EYAKENYI CRIES OUT OVER DEPLORABLE FEDERAL ROADS IN AKWA IBOM STATE

Those that ply the Ikot Ekpene - Umuahia - Aba highway and Calabar - Itu highways do have it tough going about their legitimate businesses. They definitely have heartbreaking stories to tell. The said roads could best be described as a deathtrap as cases of accident, rape and daylight robbery of the Nigerian citizens have become common features and at alarming rate. Needless complaining of the hours spent on a supposed few minutes journey.

Sen. Akon Eyakenyi

These were the issues that stormed the mind of our performing Senator representing Akwa Ibom South senatorial district at the red chamber during the plenary, hence, her call on the federal government for the construction and dualisation of the aforementioned roads.

The senator in her contribution on the floor of the Senate, noted that those deplorable roads are inter state roads that link up Akwa Ibom State with her neighbouring Abia and Cross River State respectively. More so, the two highways serve as major access for economic activities between the concerned states and are of high economic value to the good people of Akwa Ibom State and their neighbours.

She asserted that it would serve the best interest of the country should her call for the construction and dualisation of these bad roads prompt the swift response of the federal government to forestall the untold hardship suffered by the road users, especially during rainy the season that has begun already.

In her words, "Mr. President, it is unfortunate that everyday, issues of road construction, dilapidation are brought up here in the Senate to draw the attention of the federal government to their deplorable state, and action seems not to have been taken by the federal government. Mr. President, the traders and commuters of these roads are forced to go through long diversions on a high transport cost on them. Most times, our people are harassed and robbed by hoodlums and bandits who also raped our ladies in the process".

She recommended patching up of potholes among others as short term measures to the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to cry down their woes, pending when the Federal government shall complete the construction and dualisation works.

She also stressed on the abandoned East West road that terminated at Eket. She pleaded the federal government to hasten the project to completion by extending it to Oro nation through to Calabar where the project is billed to terminate.

Indeed, the good people of Akwa Ibom South nay Akwa Ibom State are reaping the full benefits of democracy courtesy of Distinguished Senator Akon Eyakenyi Ph.D.