Abia community in Etung local government area of Cross River State has lamented over what they described as outright neglect of their area by the state and federal governments.
The community wondered why it was neglected when it pays taxes and participate in the electoral processes and other activities of the state and federal government.
After donating a piece of land to the international foundation for erection of a tourists’ attraction centre, Town Council Association chairman, Mr. Mathew Agbor stated that the community was yet to understand why there was no government presence in their area
He enumerated amenities lacking in the community to include lack of electricity, pipe borne water, lack of accessible road, absence of telecommunication network, stressing that the only road available to thier community is maintained through community self-help.
While calling for quick intervention from state, federal government and public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the community to enable them have even a town council-hall, stressing that with assistance, development can spring up in the area to turn around thier fortunes of the community residents.
Responding to the clarion call, chief executive officer of Black Diamond Foundation, Rev. Agbor Black Diamond assured the community of the readiness of his foundation to provide succour to the community.
“The most important thing is that the people of Abia community are most neglected; it’s like the local government (Etung) is not part of Nigeria any longer.
There’s no access road, no light, no telecommunication connection, these have pushed its inhabitants out of the place.
“They invest in Ikom, Calabar and other places but we want to attract investors and their sons and daughters back to the locality.
“The project is going to be an edifice, to serve as a tourist attraction. Everybody living there are suffering, we have to do something to relief their sufferings.”
