Senate has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the immediate completion of Odukpani-Itu federal highway to alleviate people’s sufferings and unlock the economic potential of the zone.
This followed the adoption of a motion at plenary on Wednesday on “Urgent need to investigate slow pace of work on the Odukpani-Itu federal highway in Cross River State.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion was sponsored by Sen. Asuquo Ekpeyoung (APC-Cross River) and co-sponsored by Sen. Ekong Sampson (PDP-Akwa Ibom).
Presenting the lead debate on the motion, Ekpeyoung said that the road was a major highway in Cross River that connects Calabar to Itu in Akwa Ibom.
He said that the road was also a major route for transportation, commerce and social integration within Cross River and the South-East and South-South zones of the country.
According to him, the highway is the primary corridor for facilitation of transportation of agricultural produce, such as cocoa, palm oil, cassava, yams and bananas from rural areas to urban markets.
Ekpeyoung said the highway was also an access to tourist attractions, such as Obudu mountain resort and Agbokim waterfalls that serve as an evacuation corridor for supply of solid minerals across the South-South and South-East zones from quarries in Cross River.
He said the road was also strategic for the Calabar port, which is strategically important as a bulk cargo port for conveying petroleum products to the North-Central and North-East zones.
The senator said that the road had been in a state of disrepair for years, with significant portions uncompleted despite repeated promises and allocations in federal budgets.
He said that the delay in completing the highway had caused untold hardship to commuters and residents, disrupted economic activities and increased transportation costs for agricultural produce and other goods.
Ekpeyoung said that the completion of the road was not only a matter of infrastructure development but also, a moral and economic obligation to the people of Cross River and the Niger Delta zone at large.
He expressed the belief that completion of repairs on the road would directly support the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, as it would foster economic growth and improve connectivity.
According to him, the completion will enhance social welfare in Cross River and beyond through job creation, improved market access and support for small businesses through improved infrastructure.
NAN reports that the senators, who supported the motion, included: Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa) and Ekong Sampson (PDP-Akwa Ibom).
Consequently, the senate, in its further resolution on the motion, mandated its Committee on Works to investigate reasons behind the non-completion of repairs on the highway.
It also urged the committee to investigate access to and utilisation of the funds allocated for the project over successive budget cycles.
The upper chamber also directed the committee to summon relevant agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the contractors involved in the project.
It mandated the committee to provide detailed reports on the status of the road and the challenges being encountered. (NAN)
