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Residents of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, on Thursday, staged a peaceful protest over the prolonged delay in completing the reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, which connects Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.
The project, awarded to Heartland Construction Company over five years ago, remains incomplete, with protesters lamenting the hardship endured by road users.
Addressing journalists during the protest, a resident, Ambrose Jonah, criticised the slow pace of work and urged the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite action and provide sufficient funding for the contractor.
“This road was meant to be completed in three years, but five years have passed, and only about 20 per cent of the work has been done.
“Our appeal to the Federal Government is simple: this is an important trunk road leading to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, housing two public universities, a private university, and a research institute. The current state of the road is unacceptable, and immediate action is required before the next rainy season,” Jonah said.
Another protester, Rapture Ndubuisi-Ejim, from Ogbuebule Oboro, described the road as a “death trap,” warning that further delays could render the road impassable.
“If no significant progress is made this dry season, the road may split into two, leaving us with no option but to fly to our villages. The deplorable state of this road is affecting our economic lives. Transportation costs are skyrocketing, vehicles are breaking down regularly, and travel during the rainy season is a nightmare,” he said.
Ndubuisi-Ejim also accused the Federal Government of neglect and urged the Ministry of Works to prioritise the project. He added, “We are not asking for much; we just want this road fixed before the rains return.”
In response to the protests, the project manager, Egner Velya, attributed the delay to funding constraints from the Federal Ministry of Works.
“We can only work based on the budgetary approvals from our clients. Rising costs of raw materials have necessitated a review of our contract. From a technical standpoint, it’s possible to complete the work in one dry season, but this depends on the financial allocations from the ministry,” Velya explained.
He assured the community that palliative measures would be implemented within a week to make the road motorable during the festive season.
“Our equipment will be deployed to fix the worst sections of the road before Christmas. However, the state government must help us clear illegal structures on the Ihie Ndume axis to enable proper drainage and road expansion to federal standards,” he added.
When contacted, the Federal Controller of Works in Abia State, Tony Onwubiko, confirmed that the project’s progress depends on funding availability.
“The Federal Government is aware of the situation. Once funds are released, work on the road will resume in full swing,” Onwubiko said.
