Senator Ita Enang, former senior special assistant (SSA) to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has expressed concern over the deplorable state of Calabar—Itu Road, linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River, and the attendant sufferings of motorists and commuters.
Our correspondent gathered that although works are progressing on the other sections of the road, the Akwa Ibom portion remains at a very low rate. Vehicles transiting to Calabar, the state capital, and Northern Cross River for various businesses are stuck at the Akwa Ibom section.
The Ibiono Ibon-born former senator, who represented Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District at the Red Chamber, blamed the problem on the state government’s lack of political will, especially during Deacon Udom Emmanuel’s immediate past administration.
In an interview monitored by LEADERSHIP in Uyo, the state capital, Senator Enang recalled that the last administration refused to pay compensation for properties on the right of way as directed by the then-President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.
He said, “Let me bring bad news to the Akwa Ibom people. There is only one reason why the Akwa Ibom section of the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road is not completed.
“That is because the immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel refused to pay compensation. The federal government does not pay compensation, but the state governments, which are beneficiaries of the federal government projects, pay compensation.
“But Udom Emmanuel refused. As it stands, the contract sum has quadrupled. That is why the contract was terminated and rewarded, but with only a single lane, no longer a dual carriageway.
“Now that Pastor Umo Eno is with us on the table, we shall present it to him and see how that can be factored in in the future budget of the federal government.”
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