Motorists plying the Calabar–Oban–Ekang Road in Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State, can now heave a sigh of relief as the Federal Government commenced the long-awaited rehabilitation of the road leading up to the Cameroon border on Wednesday.

The road linking the state to the Republic of Cameroon has been in a state of disrepair, causing commuters to spend endless hours on a journey that should ordinarily take one to two hours.

The flag-off followed an earlier petition to the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, FERMA, and the Senate House Committee on NDDC, as well as the Senate House Committee on FERMA and the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The Guardian learnt that the petition, championed by the Chairman of the local council, Hon. Felix Akposi, and bolstered by the legislative support of the member representing Akamkpa II in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Linus Etim, triggered swift action on the project.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Sen. Gershom Bassey Town Hall in Oban, Hon. Akposi described the Calabar–Oban–Ekang Road as “critical infrastructure” capable of transforming the fortunes of Akamkpa, the state, and Nigeria as a whole.

“As a local government, we have tried palliative works on this road—not because it’s our direct responsibility, but because our people depend on it as their main link to the outside world and source of livelihood. Those efforts gave little relief, so we reached out to the right stakeholders, and today we are here for the flag-off,” Akposi said.

He thanked Governor Otu for his prompt response upon receiving the petition, as well as Senator Ekpenyong for championing the cause in the National Assembly, which led to the road being included in the 2024 budget.

“We have waited so long, since the implementation of the 2024 budget could not come immediately, we decided to take another step, and here we are today. Succour has finally come to our people. Businesses would thrive, the general economy in the area would be revamped, whereas the local government and the state would also feel the ripple effects,” he concluded.

Representing Senator Ekpenyong, Hon. Oqua Oqua commended the local government chairman and Rt. Hon. Etim for their advocacy, noting that the senator had moved a motion on the road at the Senate floor and worked to secure federal intervention.

He announced that the project had been awarded to FaithPlant Construction Company, an indigenous firm from the area, and urged the community to protect the contractor’s equipment and materials.
FaithPlant’s representative, Engr. Henry, assured stakeholders of a standard, efficient, and timely delivery despite the ongoing rainy season. He called for the elimination of undue community taxes, which he said could hamper progress.

Community leaders, and critical stakeholders, including Ntufam Emmanuel Anom, Rt. Hon. Linus Etim, Hon. (Mrs.) Emilia Katame (Vice Chairman of Akamkpa LGA), and Ntufam Richard Effa, praised the synergy between the Governor and the Senator, and expressed optimism about the project’s impact.

The traditional ruler, HRH Ati Okpata Ntufam Stephen Mbey, Clan Head of Oban, conveyed deep gratitude to the state and federal authorities. Youth Coordinator for Akamkpa LGA, Comr. Otu Seeker pledged youth cooperation while advocating for local content in the project’s execution.