Coalition of Civil Society organisations in Nigeria, CCSON, has appealed to the Federal Government to dualise all federal highways in the South-South (Niger Delta) region of the country.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Friday, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Otuekong Franklyn Isong flanked by other stakeholders specifically mentioned that Calabar-Itu Highway; Port Harcourt-Eleme-Ikot Abasi Highway; and Ikot Ekpene-Aba-Umuahia Highway should be attended to as matter of urgency.
Isong who is also the Akwa Ibom State Director of the Centre for Human Rights Accountability Network, CHRAN, also condemned the commencement of political activities and campaigns towards the 2027 general elections in many states in Nigeria.
He said the act was not just premature but detrimental to effective governance in those states urging them to focus more on the provision of dividends of democracy to the people.
He, therefore, urged the concerned states to halt further political campaigns until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts ban on political activities and campaigns towards the 2027 general elections.
The statement in parts, “CCSON urges the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency dualise all federal highways in the South-South (Niger Delta) region, especially the Calabar-Itu Highway; Port Harcourt-Eleme-Ikot Abasi Highway; and Ikot Ekpene-Aba-Umuahia Highway.
“CCSON frowns at the apparent commencement of political activities and campaigns towards the 2027 general elections in many States of the federation to the detriment of effective governance.”
Speaking on politics and governance in Akwa Ibom, the Coalition frowned at what it described as “ongoing sustained campaign of calumny against political leaders of the state, particularly the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno and his predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
He urged the people to come up with constructive and objective criticism of government and not to engage in social media attacks that would end up creating unnecessary tension and heating up Akwa Ibom State polity.
On the performance of 36 state governors and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory in the year 2024, the forum said after appraisals the performance of 17 governors were outstanding and encouraged them to sustain it even as it challenged others to up their games in 2025.
The forum enumerated the Governors to include: Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Cross Rivers, Imo, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa States and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
