By Ene Asuquo
The Senator representing southern senatorial district of Cross River State, senator Asuquo Ekpenyong has presented a motion calling for an urgent rehabilitation of Calabar – Oban – Ekang roads that connects Nigeria to Cameroon
Presenting his first motion in the Day 1 plenary of the 10th Assembly in the hallow chambers, senator Ekpenyong lamented the sufferings of the people because of the poor condition of the road because of neglect
He said the road which is a major link between the southern part of Nigeria through cross River to Cameroon, an important transport corridor and commercial gateway has been completely cutoff.
He lamented that the road has suffered the worst form of neglect in the history of road maintainance and rehabilitation in Nigeria despite having featured in successive budgets as capital project without execution even when the contract was awarded
Sen Ekpenyong added that the construction company,(CENTRACO) which was awarded the contract was not mobilized to go to site even with the provision 250million Naira in the 2023 appropriation act as an ongoing project
The senator who had personally witnessed the suffering of the people of Ikpai when touring the communities during his campaigns called on the 10th Senate to review the contract
The motion was passed unanimously and all three prayers were adopted as presented as express resolutions of the 10th Senate of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Sen Ekpenyong stressed that the road when rehabilitated, will enhance commercial activity in the region, shorten travel times, improve security, and increase the overall quality of life of the inhabitants of the several communities along that corridor.