Residents along Navy Road in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have expressed their frustration over the abandoned 1.8km road project, which was awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2013.
Their outcry has sparked calls for the state government to intervene and address this long-standing issue.
The contract for this road project, connecting the jetty to the Ibaka-Oron road, was awarded to Messrs Foul Plant Nigeria Limited by the NDDC in 2013. Regrettably, the project has remained in a state of neglect despite some initial progress, including the overlaying of bituminous asphalt.
According to Mr. Etim Michael, a youth leader from the Ibaka community, the project was allegedly abandoned in 2018 after a sluggish start that began in 2013. “Between 2013 and 2018, the work was abandoned after overlaying approximately 697.3 meters of bituminous asphalt from the jetty in Ibaka Beach to the main gate of the Naval Base,” Michael explained.
He emphasized that the completion of the Naval Base access road, linking to the Ibaka-Oron access road, would alleviate the considerable hardship faced by road users, particularly during the rainy season. Additionally, it would enable the Navy to respond swiftly in the event of a security emergency, a critical concern for the community.
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The residents lamented that they have endured five years without electricity, calling on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in the area to come to their aid. Despite their efforts to reach the state governor, Umo Eno, the situation remains unresolved. Youth organizations have also tried to draw the NDDC’s attention to the abandoned project, but their appeals have gone unanswered.
The situation has not only caused hardship for motorists and communities along the road but has also heightened security concerns due to slower response times by security agencies, particularly the Navy, in the event of emergencies.
Taxi driver Okokon Emmanuel, who frequently uses the road from Oron town to Ibaka, appealed to the state government to urgently rehabilitate the 1.8km road without waiting for the NDDC. He also called on the recently constituted NDDC board, including Akwa Ibomite Victor Antai as the Executive Director of the project, to summon the contractor back to the site.
Residents are seeking a solution to this issue, including potential legislation at the National Assembly to hold contractors accountable for abandoned projects, which they view as economic sabotage. They are concerned about the prevalence of neglected NDDC projects across the Niger Delta region, urging stakeholders to address this situation, which they believe hampers development.
At the time of this report, the contractor could not be reached for comment on the matter.
