Youth Groups to Resume Ikom–Obudu Highway Protest March 23
By Ebi COLLINS
Youth groups from communities along the Ikom–Obudu federal highway have announced plans to resume their protest over the deplorable condition of the road, beginning March 23.
The groups said the protest, which was first staged last month, would continue until April 5, as they intensify demands for urgent government intervention on the critical roadway.
The affected communities span Ikom, Etung, Boki, Obanliku and Obudu local government areas, underscoring the wide impact of the road’s poor condition on residents and economic activities across northern Cross River.
In a notice addressed to business owners and residents along the corridor, the youth leaders warned that movement of goods, vehicles and persons along the Ikom, Obudu and Wula axis would be disrupted during the period of the protest.
They described the road as a major economic lifeline for the region, lamenting that its poor state has continued to hinder transportation, commerce and daily activities of residents.
“As stakeholders, we recognise the impact this protest may have on businesses, but we believe it is crucial to involve everyone in this collective struggle for a better road that is essential to our economy,” the statement read.
The organisers, however, assured that the protest would remain peaceful, urging traders, transporters and residents to cooperate in maintaining order throughout the exercise.
They stressed that the temporary inconvenience was necessary to achieve lasting solutions, noting that a functional highway would significantly improve economic activities and safety in the area.
The youth groups also called on all stakeholders to support the action, insisting that collective effort was needed to draw the attention of authorities to the worsening condition of the road.
Signatories to the notice include Chief Dr. Assam Martins Etta, Chairman of NYCN Abo Ward, and Comrade Tandu Kingsley Ntui, also known as “Sar King,” a youth leader in Bendeghe Ekiem.
Copies of the notice were sent to transport unions, including timber, banana, cocoa, cyclists and drivers’ unions, as well as security agencies such as the Police, Army, Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups.
The protest, tagged “No Road, No Elections,” reflects growing frustration among youths and residents who say the continued neglect of the highway has taken a toll on livelihoods across the affected communities.
