Youths block Ikom-Obudu highway over decades-old road neglect in Cross River
By Emma Una
CALABAR – Protest by youths from Boki and Ikom Local Government Areas in central Cross River State entered its fourth day on Thursday, as demonstrators blocked the Ikom-Obudu highway to traffic, demanding urgent repairs to the decades-old road.
The highway, spanning about 80 kilometres, has reportedly been neglected for several decades, causing accidents, economic losses, and general hardship for residents.
The leader of the protesting youths, Njor Raymond, who lost a leg in a previous accident on the highway, warned that there would be no participation in the 2027 elections in the area unless the road is fixed.
“We have had enough. This road has destroyed lives and property for many years. If this road is left like this, there shall be no election here. They can cast our votes in their homes, but not here,” he said.
Aduma Alice, another protester, lamented the state of infrastructure in Cross River, noting that the federal government has ignored the condition of the highway despite regular taxes paid from goods transported along it.
“Vehicles come here every week to evacuate timber, plantain, and bananas, and taxes are paid, yet the road remains neglected. It was constructed during General Gowon’s era in the oil boom, but nothing has been done since,” she said, echoing the “no road, no election” stance.
Reacting to the protest, the member representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Victor Abang, acknowledged the frustrations of the constituents, describing the road’s condition as unacceptable.
Abang appealed to the youths to temporarily suspend their protest, assuring them that legislative and executive efforts are underway to address their concerns.
“The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has engaged the Federal Government, under whose jurisdiction the road falls, to ensure immediate remedial works and comprehensive reconstruction of the dilapidated sections,” he said.
The lawmaker acknowledged the hardships faced by residents, including economic losses and safety risks, and reassured them that the issue has been formally escalated through the appropriate legislative channels.
He urged residents and protesters to remain law-abiding and allow institutional processes to take effect, emphasizing his commitment to effective representation and sustained engagement with federal and state authorities to ensure urgent intervention.
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