Motorists, Commuters Lament Deplorable Federal Roads In C'River
By Ndifereke BASSEY
Motorists and commuters in Cross River have decried the state of federal roads across the state and described it as unacceptable.
The motorists particular decried the Calabar/Itu road and that of Calabar/Ogoja road, especially between the axis of Akamkpa and Biase.
Speaking in a separate interview with THE BEAGLE NEWS, the motorists appealed for palliative measures to address the situation.
The motorists noted that the state of the roads was impacting negatively on their business in the area of time and cost implications.
A motorist, Emmanuel Asuquo, said the deplorable roads have eaten deep into his profit and he spends more on vehicle repairs more than he used to.
"The situation is no longer normal moreso as motor parts are very expensive now in Calabar and environs.
"Because of the bad road, you must have your car fixed after each journey to Uyo and Ogoja," he stated.
On his part, another motorists, Mathew Agbor, described the time wasted on the roads owing to their state as "terrible."
According to Agbor, "ordinarily, a journey from Calabar to Uyo in Akwa Ibom shouldn't have been more than an hour and half, but it now takes close to four hours.
"The annoying thing is the slow pace of work being carried out on the Calabar/Itu road by the contractors handling the road.
"One would have expected that the road been handled by three different contractors would have assume appreciable stage now.
"With the rains coming, things are just going to be tougher for us."
Also lamenting their woe, a traveler, who identified herself as Jessinta, attributed the high cost of goods, especially food stuff to the high cost of transportation.
"We spend much on transportation and so we transfer all the costs to the products we sell.
"Like the transporters made us to understand that their high charges are because of the bad roads and security agents that mount road blocks, we also try to recoup by putting all these in our final cost," she stated.
Meanwhile, a source in the ministry of works said respite is on the way particularly on the Calabar/Itu road and that of Ogoja highway from the axis of Akamkpa and Biase were receiving priority attention.
He also noted that the delay on the Calabar/Itu was as a result of minor amendment to the original design as well as the issue of compensation.
"As we speak, remedial work is been carried out out on the road so motorists won't suffer before the contractors fully go back to site on that road.
"Similarly, the Akamkpa and Biase axis of the Calabar/Ogoja road is not left behind as contract for palliative work have been awarded and the contractor on site already," he said.
