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Residents of Navy Road in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are calling on the state government to intervene regarding an abandoned NDDC road project. The project, involving the construction of a 7.3-meter-wide access road stretching 1.8 kilometers from the jetty to Ibaka-Oron road, was awarded to Messrs Foul Plant Nigeria Limited by NDDC in 2013 but has since been left incomplete, causing hardship for the local population.
Our correspondent, who visited the area over the weekend, reported that a significant portion of the road, approximately 1.8 kilometers, is in a deplorable state, despite having undergone some bituminous asphalt overlay. According to Mr. Etim Michael, a youth leader from Ibaka, the project was abandoned in 2018 after years of slow progress that began in 2013.
Michael emphasized the need for the completion of the Naval Base access road, linking it to the Ibaka-Oron access road, which would alleviate the suffering experienced by locals, especially during the rainy season. It would also enable the Navy to respond swiftly to security emergencies.
The youth leader decried the lack of electricity in the Navy road area, which has persisted for the past five years. He called on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in the region to assist in resolving this issue. Michael mentioned several attempts to reach out to the state government, including Governor Umo Eno and Deputy Governor Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, which have yielded no positive response.
He also noted that past efforts by youth organizations in the area to draw the attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the abandoned project have been unsuccessful.
Taxi driver Okokon Emmanuel, who uses the road frequently, called on the state government to rehabilitate the 1.8km road urgently, without waiting for NDDC. He also urged the newly constituted NDDC Board, with Akwa Ibom’s Mr. Victor Antai as the Executive Director Project, to summon the contractor back to the site.
Emmanuel stressed the economic importance of the road to the state and expressed concern about a single individual holding the area’s residents hostage by abandoning a project undertaken for NDDC. He explained that the 1.8km road, which previously took just three minutes to traverse from the naval base, now requires 30 minutes due to its deplorable state.
Another resident, Victor Onwineng, suggested the need for legislation by the National Assembly to hold contractors accountable for abandoned projects, describing such actions as economic sabotage. He lamented the prevalence of abandoned NDDC projects throughout the Niger Delta region and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the situation, which has hampered development. Onwineng emphasized that the completion of the Base access road, linking Ibaka–Oron access road, would improve the living conditions of residents, enhance the navy base’s operational response, and reduce insecurity in the area.
