Poor Roads Fuel Rising Out-Of-School Children In Akwa Ibom, Residents Lament

Rural residents of Ikot Okpok in Edemaya clan, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of an abandoned road project, saying it has become a major barrier preventing pupils from accessing schools and worsening the growing number of out-of-school children in the area.

The residents said the road, which cuts across several communities including Atan Ikpe, Ikot Efre, Ikot Okpok, Ikot Akpabio, Atan Ekaiko and Ikot Etenge Ndon, was originally awarded during the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel but has since been left in a deplorable state by the contractor, HENSEK Integrated Services (HIS).

They lamented that the failed project has disrupted daily life, restricting movement to schools, farms, churches and social activities, particularly during rainy seasons when the road becomes completely impassable.

A retired school teacher in Onna LGA, Bassey Ukpong, said the situation has directly contributed to children missing school regularly due to the difficulty of commuting.

“Sometimes pupils are forced to stay away from school, and it is increasing the number of out-of-school children,” he said.

According to residents, the project was initially awarded in 2019 with the intention of opening up rural communities and creating local jobs, but alleged funding delays and poor execution have left the road in a worse condition than before.

They further alleged that parts of the contract were sublet to unqualified individuals, resulting in substandard work, including poorly constructed drainage channels and indiscriminate dumping of excavated soil along the road.

Community members said these issues have made the road hazardous for both motorists and pedestrians, with vehicles often getting stuck or damaged during rainfall.

The village head of Ikot Okpok, Chief Iko-Abasi Alfred Ekiko, described the hardship as unbearable, saying residents now struggle to move freely even for basic activities.

“Our people are suffering a lot because of the poor construction of the road. Students going to primary and secondary schools have suffered a lot. Sometimes they stay away from school,” he said.

He urged Governor Umo Eno to urgently intervene and compel the contractor to return to site and complete the project.

A community leader, Elder Ntudo Udoessien, also expressed frustration over the situation, noting that motorists now avoid the route due to frequent vehicle breakdowns.

“The condition of the road is terrible. Motorists fear their vehicles will break down. Social life is poor, and people cannot attend functions, especially when it rains,” he said.

Responding to the complaints, the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, said he would direct the project engineer to assess the situation and provide a technical report.

He added that while the road was awarded to HENSEK Integrated Services Limited and work had commenced, the ministry would verify the current state of the project before taking further action.