The people of Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State have registered their grievances of the snail pace of Ikwuano – Ikot Ekpene road through a peaceful protest to the Federal Government.
The protesters visited the zone 9 section of the road, Ihie Ndume, Dozie way along Streams of joy, Umugbalu, Nnono, Ndoro and Ariam section of the road.
The Umuahia Ikwuano federal road is about 49km and it is being handled by Heartland Civil Engineering Construction
Interacting with newsmen shortly after registering their contest at the Federal Ministry of Works, Catechist Ambrose Jonah, one of the stakeholders of the host community, Ikwuano, wondered why the road work that supposed to last for three, has lasted for more than 5 years running.
According to him, Ikwuano, a local government that is housing about two universities and one private university is not suppose to be taken for granted.
“We are here to register our grievances in form of a peaceful contest to the Federal government, that the contractor handling this very road has abandon the road for a very long time . This is a trunk A road that leads to Akwa Ibom state and Cross River state. It is disturbing that a road that was meant to last for three years has lingered to about five years project and only about 20 percent of it has been done .
“If para-venture the road is not done before the next rainy season, the true is that it will become something else for both Ikwuano people and other people using this road”.
He expressed optimism that their registered protest would yield a positive reaction from the Federal Government.
“Gentlemen, I’m pleased we have heard from them and the plans they have on ground. Let’s just give them the benefit of doubt.The State Controller of Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Tony Onwubiko, has promised that within one week they would start the job and let just pray for them, believing that within this very festive period we are going to have a motorable road”
Speaking also, a member of the host community, Mr. Rapture Ndubuisi Ejim, from Ogbuebule, Oboro Ikwuano, decried that the road is turning into a death trap, particularly from the local government headquarters to Ariam
“For years now, this road has been like this, when they fix it, they don’t fix it well. Now the situation of the road is crazy and it is affecting the economy of the community. The price of transportation is high. Vehicle get spoilt and it is worse during the rainy season. You can’t ply this road to Uyo during the rainy season.
“At times vehicles pass here through the villages to cut off to Uyo”, Ejim said.
Interacting with newsmen also, the State Controller of Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Tony Onwubiko, said work has started fully as the contract is still on, but attributed the snail pace of work to the rain.
Also the Project Manager of Heartland Construction, Mr. Rawad Velya, said that delay was not their fault, pointing out that issues surrounding the budget caused the snail pace work.
He said that present economic challenges country, caused them to make a review of all the contracts, but assured that they will try to mobilize equipment to fix some bad spots before Christmas.
