By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The candidate for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Ikom/Boki federal constituency, Comrade Abang Pius Besong, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to urgently rehabilitate the 140-kilometre Ikom-Boki-Obudu federal highway, which has collapsed leading to halt in economic activities in the area.
Besong made the call yesterday while reacting to the deplorable condition of the federal highway during a telephone conversation, saying that the road has completely collapsed, cutting off Boki communities from the rest of the state and subjecting residents to severe economic hardship.
He said that the corridor, locally known as Ikom-Wula-Obudu Road, is the only lifeline of the Boki nation and is critical to the survival and economy of the people, stressing that the approximately 140-kilometre road linking Boki with Ikom and other states has become deplorable and impassable.
He said, “Farmers struggle to transport their harvests to markets. Produce risks being damaged or wasted. Transport costs increase, while ordinary families bear the consequences.”
He stated that viral videos circulating online have shown trucks and buses stuck helplessly in deep mud while conveying agricultural produce.
Besong stressed that Boki is blessed with cocoa, timber and other agricultural produces that contribute significantly to the economy of Cross River State and the nation, yet suffers serious infrastructure neglect.
He warned that the situation directly affects livelihoods, food security, education, healthcare and local commerce.
He therefore appealed to President Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Works David Umahi, Governor Otu, federal lawmakers from Cross River State and relevant development agencies to put politics aside and act urgently.
He called for immediate inspection of the 140-kilometre stretch, documentation of the worst sections and pursuit of both emergency palliative measures and permanent rehabilitation to reconnect Boki to the state’s economic centres.
