East-West Road: Families Petition FG, Others As 2 Die In A/Ibom Collapsed Buildings

The poorly constructed Akwa Ibom portion of the East -West road has brought untold hardships to residents, with two persons reportedly killed under the weight of collapsed buildings which caved in under the pressure of flash floods diverted into the residential areas by during construction.

Our correspondent gathered the two persons lost their lives when the ill- constructed portion collapsed along Ataobong by-pass axis (Phase IV) of the East – West road project awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works to the firm of Gitto Construzioni General Nigeria Limited, leaving survivors homeless.

According to stranded residents, one of the houses collapsed when rainfall hit the area during the night hours, killing one victim identified as Isaac Nkenyie, while another victim, Anietie Etito, also lost her child in the next building that also collapsed within the same vicinity.

Lamenting her ordeal, Rita Isaac Nkenyie, widow of the deceased, recalled that since the death of her husband, she had been exposed to hardship and hunger coupled with lack of accomodations and inability to pay school for her children.

“Since our house collapsed in the night and killed my husband, I have no place to live with my children.We don’t even have food to eat. My husband was the bread winner. I can not afford school fees for children. I have withdrawn them from private schools to government primary school.”

The affected families led by Daniel Sunday Etukudoh ,Monday Edoho, Anietie Henry Edoho Miriam Ekaso among others, therefore resorted to legal action in the process of seeking redress.

They consequently sued the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, the Gitto construction firm, and the Akwa Ibom State Government, said to have contracted the payment of compensation to an Estate Valuer, Iniama and Partners.

In a suit no HEK/ 20/2026, the affected families prayed the court to award the sum of N1 billion as damages, and pleaded the Court to compel the Estate Valuer to resume payment of compensation which, they recalled, had started but was stopped under what they described as controversial circumstances.

The claimant also sought for an order of Court to compel the defendants to pay N1 billion as general damages for trauma, loss of resources, loss of love ones and loss of businesses over the years as a result of taking their lands without compensation.

“An order compelling the Defendants to pay N1 billion as general damages for trauma, loss of resources, loss of loved ones and loss of businesses over the years as a result of taking of our lands without compensation

“An order compelling the Defendants to pay all claimants for lands and houses that were earlier valued and marked for compensation, and also restraining the Defendants from carrying any form of selective payment of compensation among others,” the claimants’ statement reads.

However, the Principal/ Managing Partner of Iniama and Associates, Hon James Iniama, in his response said that payments for compensation on the East West road bypass had commenced, but was later stopped.

“You know me very well that I do my business honestly. If I am interrogated on this matter, I will say it as it happened without fear or favour,” he admitted.

Meanwhile, counsel for the plaintiffs, Eyibio Okon, has vowed that the matter would be pursued to its logical conclusion to ensure that justice prevails for the bereaved families and compensation for the property owners

“There must be justice to all parties in the case and we are out to ensure there is justice to all,” he assured, as the case has been adjourned to 20th October, 2026 for hearing .