Abia community protests delayed road completion

The residents of Ikwuano Local Government Area in Abia State held a peaceful protest on Thursday, demanding the completion of the long-delayed reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, a critical route connecting Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the project, awarded to Heartland Construction Company over five years ago, remains unfinished, with protesters highlighting the severe hardships endured by road users.

During the protest, a resident, Ambrose Jonah, addressed journalists, condemning the slow progress and urging the Federal Ministry of Works to accelerate the project and ensure sufficient funding for the contractor.

“This road was supposed to be completed in three years, but five years have passed, and only about 20 per cent of the work has been done.
“Our appeal to the Federal Government is straightforward: this is a crucial Trunk A road leading to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. It serves two public universities, a private university, and a research institute. The current condition of the road is unacceptable, and immediate action is needed before the next rainy season,” Jonah said.

Another protester, Rapture Ndubuisi-Ejim, from Ogbuebule Oboro, described the road as a “death trap” and cautioned that further delays could make it impassable.

“If no significant progress is made this dry season, the road could split in two, leaving us with no option but to fly to our villages. The deplorable state of the road is crippling our economy. Transport costs are skyrocketing, vehicles break down frequently, and travelling during the rainy season is a nightmare,” he said.
Ndubuisi-Ejim accused the Federal Government of abandoning the road and called on the Ministry of Works to prioritise the project.
“We are not asking for much; we just want this road fixed before the rains return,” he added.

In response to the protests, the construction company’s project manager, Egner Velya, attributed the delay to funding constraints from the Federal Ministry of Works.

“We can only work within the limits of the budgetary approvals from our clients. The rising costs of raw materials have necessitated a contract review. Technically, it is possible to complete the work in one dry season, but this depends on the financial allocations from the ministry,” Velya explained.

He assured the community that temporary repairs would be carried out within a week to make the road passable during the festive season.

“Our equipment will be deployed to fix the worst sections of the road before Christmas. However, the state government must assist us by clearing illegal structures along the Ihie Ndume area to allow for proper drainage and road expansion in line with federal standards,” he added.

When contacted, the Federal Controller of Works in Abia State, Tony Onwubiko, confirmed that the project’s progress depended on the availability of funds.
“The Federal Government is aware of the situation. Once funds are released, work on the road will resume in full swing,” Onwubiko said.