A farmer and resident of Obingwa LGA, Abia State, Mr. Uzochukwu Okwu, have told Vanguard that not less than 3000 jobs has been lost due to the deplorable state of Aba/Ikot-Ekpene federal road.

Recall that this is the only commercial road linking Abia and Akwa Ibom states, in total abandonment.

The road project had been featured in every year's budget of the federal government without execution, except last year (2016), the road project was excluded.

In this year's budget (2017), the road was included and work commenced on the road, but was later put to stop for unknown reasons.

Lamenting the poor state of the road when accosted by the newsmen, Mr. Okwu said; ‘’It is a shame that the Abia State government and the federal government allowed this all-important road to degenerate into this level where it is now totally impassable. You can imagine the number of business enterprises on this road and the number of families they feed.

"Conservatively, these businesses created nearly 3000 jobs,’ Mr. Okwu concluded.

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Further check revealed that the Aba/Ikot Ekpene road which is the major link between Aba and Akwa Ibom and Cross River hosts 46 filling stations, 15 mechanic workshops, two hospitals, seven hotels, eight schools, 32 Palm Beaches, three farm settlements, 50 restaurants and supermarkets and four manufacturing companies.

The worst sections of the highway which have been abandoned are the Alaoji/Ukpakiri, Umuokpo/Umuwaoma and Onicha Ngwa/ Nlagu areas on the 20km stretch from Opobo Junction in Ogbor Hill to Nlagu which is the last border community between Abia and Akwa Ibom state.

Many communities along the highway have been cut off as residents and motorists now pass through bush parts.

The people of Obingwa Local Government Area and environs now find it difficult to access the Nigerian Christian Hospital, Nlagu.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Obingwa East Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Mr. Solomon Akpulonu, appealed to the state and federal governments to rehabilitate the road, adding that the road had been featuring in national budgets since 2009 without being rehabilitated.

Source: https://abacityblog.com/2017/11/3000-jobs-lost-deplorable-state-aba-ikot-ekpene-road.html

Noted, I shall look into this matter by 2019

please is the governor on maternity leave?

My generation never saw this road in good condition at any time over a 40 year period. Nigeria really show southeast pepper. But at times like this I reflect on Jonathan era as a waste. There is no reason why his government also abandoned the road.