Reps seek Urgent East-West Road Construction

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, emphatically called upon the Federal Ministry of Works to take immediate steps towards commencing the construction of Section V of the East-West Road. This vital undertaking is aimed at establishing a crucial link between Oron, located in Akwa Ibom State, and Odukpani Calabar, situated in Cross River State.

In this pivotal development, a proposal of utmost significance, titled "Commencement of Section V Construction of the East-West Road Linking Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and Odukpani Calabar, Cross River State," garnered resounding support. The driving force behind this initiative was a group of dedicated public servants including Honorable Bassey Akiba, Honorable Mike Etaba, Honorable Alex Egbona, Honorable Joseph Bassey, Honorable Emil Inyang, Honorable Victor Abang, and Honorable Peter Akpa. Their collective effort emphasized the urgency and paramount importance of swiftly advancing the construction of this essential roadway. This substantial stride is a testament to their commitment to ensuring seamless travel between Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and Odukpani Calabar, Cross River State, ultimately enhancing accessibility and connectivity for the benefit of the community at large.

The House of Representatives has directed the Committees on Works and Appropriations to allocate funds for the construction of this vital road in the 2024 budget. This strategic decision underscores the House's strong commitment to enhancing connectivity between Oron in Akwa Ibom State and Odukpani Calabar in Cross River State.

It is important to recognize the significance of the East-West Road, a substantial 388-kilometer Federal Trunk A2 dual carriageway. This road acts as a pivotal link, connecting the Niger-Delta states and the Ikom Federal Trunk A4 road. Originally envisioned with an impressive network of 42 bridges and 1000 culverts, this ambitious project was granted a substantial budget of N246 billion back in 2006.

Of particular note is that the road has been meticulously divided into five distinctive sections: Warri-Kaiama in Delta/Bayelsa State, Port Harcourt-Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa State, Eleme-Onne-Ete in Rivers/Akwa Ibom State, and Ikot Abasi-Eket–Oron Road in Akwa Ibom/Cross River State.

It is with a sense of pride that the House acknowledges that sections I to IV of this monumental road project have achieved an impressive 85% completion rate, with commendable support from the Federal Government, which has released funds for the construction of a new bypass and other essential works. This commendable progress has seen the initial contract sum of N246 billion escalate to N506 billion, with over 80% of the allocated funds having already been disbursed.

However, the House remains deeply concerned that the construction of Section IV, a pivotal 30-kilometer dual carriageway stretching from Oron to Calabar, is still in progress, despite having been awarded contracts by the federal government.

Regrettably, the current state of the road, which serves as a crucial link between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, is deplorable, marred by unsightly potholes that have inflicted considerable losses on commuters, forcing them to resort to sea travel as an alternative.

Undoubtedly, the initiation of construction on Section V of the East-West Road holds the promise of alleviating Nigeria's infrastructural shortfall, ultimately bolstering economic stability by facilitating the seamless movement of goods.

The House emphasizes that the construction of this new section of the East-West Road is poised to ameliorate the current six-hour travel time, which has substantially escalated transportation costs within the region. This conscientious endeavor underscores the House's unwavering commitment to advancing the socio-economic prosperity of the affected communities and the nation at large.