Calabar-Itu highway now a death trap for commuters – CRSCF raises alarm

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The Cross River South Consultative Forum (CRSCF) has deplored the deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu Federal highway, saying the road has become a death trap for commuters.

The forum which disclosed this in Calabar raised concerns about the state of the road which connects Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

The highway, first constructed in the early 70s, has been in a terrible state of disrepair in the last two decades.

Its increasingly parlous state has posed a grave challenge to commuters between both states despite yearly assurances of intervention by the government.

Presenting the position of the forum in Calabar, its Chairman, Eyo Nsa Ekpo and other members recounted the ordeal the people of both Akwa Ibom and Cross River states have endured due to its bad state.

“What was once a vital trade route is now a gauntlet of potholes, eroded sections, and collapsed portions, turning journeys that should take minutes into hours-long ordeals.

“The rainy season has transformed the highway into a muddy quagmire, rendering stretches of it completely impassable.

“Commuters face agonizing delays, transporters grapple with vehicle breakdowns and lost revenue, and accidents, often fatal, have become tragically commonplace.

“Businesses are collapsing under the weight of increased transportation costs, farmers struggle to get their produce to market, and essential services are disrupted.

“The economic fallout is severe, but the human cost is even greater. Sick individuals, pregnant women, and accident victims endure unimaginable suffering as they try to access medical care.

“The road’s perilous state has also emboldened criminals, who prey on stranded motorists”, the forum said.

The Forum also disclosed that efforts to engage with the government have been met with empty promises.

The CRSCF demands immediate action on the highway and tasked the Federal Government to prioritize this critical infrastructure project saying people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom have endured enough.