Senator Austin Akobundu of the Abia Central Senatorial District on Wednesday, put forth a motion in the Senate addressing the urgent need for the Federal Ministry of Works to accelerate the rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road. This initiative aims to alleviate the difficulties faced by Nigerian motorists and tackle the escalating insecurity in the region.
In presenting the motion, Senator Akobundu noted that “the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, a vital connection between Abia State and Akwa Ibom State via Ikwuano LGA, has suffered from a severe state of disrepair for over 30 years. Despite the attempts of successive governments at both federal and state levels to implement remedial measures, the road remains in appalling condition for reasons that remain unclear.”
Akobundu expressed concern that “many dilapidated sections of the road have further deteriorated during the rainy season, making them impassable and causing significant hardship for motorists and traders travelling between Abia and Akwa Ibom States.” He declared that this predicament has plunged the residents of Ikwuano LGA into despair. He further lamented the fact that this issue remains unresolved, despite having been raised during discussions surrounding the 2024 Appropriation Bill last year.
Consequently, he urged the Federal Government to recognise the economic ramifications of the project’s delay on the residents of Abia and Akwa Ibom States, as well as on others from Cross River, Onitsha, and Lagos who rely on the route daily.
In light of these concerns, the Senate made the following resolutions:
i. Urge the Federal Ministry of Works to promptly allocate funds for the completion of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road during the current dry season; and
ii. Mandate the Committee on Works to urgently investigate and identify the causes of the delays, assess the extent of the failures, and report back to the Senate within two weeks for further legislative action.
