- Communities send SOS to Akwa Ibom State Govt
Communities affected by collapsed bridges in Akwa Ibom have appealed to the State Government for help by fixing the deplorable roads to improve transportation and economic life of the people.
The alarm is coming less than three weeks, Akwa Ibom Speaker, Aniekan Bassey ordered the House Committee on Works to visit the 16 villages in Ikono Local Government Area; Nkwot Ikot Nseyen – Nung Ukim and Iton Ikot Ito – Iton Mmong bridges, following their lawmaker, Mr Asuquo Nnana Udo’s similar appeal to the House for help.
A community leader in Onna Local Government Area, Chief Udo Joseph during interaction with news men said, collapsed bridges littering the State in recent times are becoming death traps due to their abandonment by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
Chief Joseph, who spoke passionately about Ikot Akpan Mkpe – Ikot Akpa Ekop Bridge said, the collapsed and abandoned bridge which was constructed in the 70’s used to provide a thoroughfare for traders travelling from Onna to the popular Ukam market in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, now forcing traders to resort to alternative routes of longer distances.
According to him, ‘‘Ikot Akpan Mkpe – Ikot Akpa Ekop barely Bridge was constructed in the 70’s linking part of Onna with Mkpat Enin by providing a thoroughfare for traders going to Ukam Market in Mkpat Enin.
‘‘Now it is collapsed and abandoned thereby, posing as a death trap to people traversing the area to Ukam market and the environs’’.
Some of the collapsed bridges in the State visited by the team were; Nkwot Edem Edet in Ikono LGA, Aka – Ikot Udo Eno in Ibiono LGA and Mbiaso – Ikot Ukpong in Obot Akara Local Government.
Others are; Ikot Inyang Okop – Ikot Ekpang, Asana – Ibianga bridges located in Mkpat Enin LGA, Ibikpe –Mbiakong Bridge in Uruan LGA, Ikot Mfon –Ndiya Bridge, Afaha Ikot Idem Udo – Ntan Bridge in Etinan linking Onna LGA, Mbiaso Enyin Bridge, Ikot Nsong – Ikot Enyienge Bridge linking Etinan with Mkpat Enin and Abak – Mbiakot Bridge linking Abak with Oruk Anam Local Government Areas amongst others.
An indigene of Obot Akara Local Government, Mr Michael Umoh who commented on the state of Mbiaso – Ikot Ukpong Bridge told journalists during the visit that, the situation was bad to a level that, the community could no longer wait for the government to reconstruct the bridge.
He said, they intervened by levying members of the community and passers-by to contribute money to buy materials to construct an improvised bridge to make the road passable, as well as aid movement of goods between Akwa Ibom and Abia State.
Mr Umoh expressed worry that, the collapsed bridge had affected the economy of the area so much that, traders from Obot Akara would have to go through alternative route to get to Ikot Ekpene and vice – versa.
He called on the State Government to help the community by constructing new bridge.
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga was indisposed to talk to the press on the matter however, his aide, Mr Akpabio Udo said, ‘‘the Commissioner has just resume office after taking over from his predecessor, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen barely some hours ago’’.
Observation during the survey showed that, the bridges/collapsed roads crippled the economic activities across the affected commnities, as farmers and traders struggled to evacuate their produce and goods to markets and other towns.
