By Mike Abang (CALABAR) –
Barely two and a half years after coming into power on May 29, 2023, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, introduced what he calls the Season of Sweetness in Cross River State.
“Season of Sweetness” is a political slogan of Governor Basssey Otu’s government, signifying the government’s commitment to improving social and economic infrastructure in the state, and ensuring that the people are happy.
This is coming ahead of the 20th anniversary of the popular Calabar Carnival, known globally as the greatest street party in Africa.
To ensure the success of the carnival, Governor Otu is taking deliberate steps towards putting in place the relevant facilities. For example, he has floated a free bus service in Calabar and across the state. Also, major streets in the Municipal Council have been given a new look ahead of the festivities. Visitors to Calabar might wonder what is happening, as Millennium Park has been modernised, the Mary Slessor site is now a fun city.
The administration has restored over 270 solar street lights in Calabar South Local Government, Yakurr, and Ogoja; installed 14 transformers in Calabar; and built schools, health centres, markets, among other projects.
For more than five decades however, communities across the Azikiwe/Akparika axis of Calabar South have lived with crumbling, impassable roads, forgotten by successive administrations and increasingly unfit for human habitation.
Today, community leaders, youth representatives, women’s groups, and residents are intensifying their plea to the Cross River State Government to rehabilitate the long-abandoned streets that have effectively cut them off from the rest of the city.
What began as frustration has snowballed into a desperate cry for help.
During an interaction with our reporter, the traditional leader of Efut Ekondo, Muri Akparika Okon Edem, made a passionate appeal to Governor Bassey Edet Otu to urgently salvage their deteriorating road network.
According to him, “The citizens of the Azikiwe/Akparika area have been cut off from the city for over fifty years. As the leader of this area, I appeal to our governor to consider the rehabilitation of our ten streets so we can also feel the impact of democracy like other parts of the state.”
Muri Edem, who described the governor as “a beloved son of the community,” said it was disheartening that despite the area’s historical significance, home to streets named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first indigenous President, the community had remained stagnant for decades.
“Our people feel forgotten,” he said. “All we ask for is the restoration of our dignity through good roads.”
A prominent economist, Emmanuel Otu-Ekong Oyoita, described the situation as “a national embarrassment” and blamed decades of failed urban planning.
He explained that the network of abandoned streets, estimated at nearly 15 kilometres, should have been captured in successive state budgets but was repeatedly ignored.
According to Oyoita, “Infrastructure provision is supposed to depend on population density, not on who lives in an area. Roads should not be built because a particular individual is there; they should be built because the population needs them. That is global best practice.”
Oyoita lamented that, unlike organised societies where infrastructure precedes housing, the reverse has become the norm in Nigeria.
“It is unfortunate that, in this part of the world, houses come before infrastructure,” he added.
He listed several neglected streets, including Akparika, Azikiwe, Azikiwe Lane, Abasi Edem, Ekpo Ase, National Commercial, Atakpa, and Palm Lane.
“You cannot even communicate with people in the area because the roads have become impassable. A pregnant woman cannot safely pass through these streets on a commercial bike,” he said.
The economist also drew attention to the security implications of the decaying road infrastructure.
“How do you expect security agents to pursue criminals in such an area? Businesses have shut down, houses are being submerged by floods, and the entire area has lost its economic life,” he said.
Though officials of the Ministry of Works recently surveyed the area, he expressed doubts about implementation.
“It is one thing to put these roads in the budget and another thing to implement them. We are asking the government to include the 15-kilometre stretch in the state budget and ensure execution.”
Despite the neglect, Oyoita commended Governor Otu’s efforts on security and urged residents to continue supporting the administration.
“The governor has done well in security. We also have a vigilante group to support government efforts. Residents must keep contributing to sustain security measures.”
The youth leader of the area, Etubom Ekpeyong Asuquo Okon, expressed disappointment over the government’s silence despite several letters and appeals.
“We are the indigenous people of Ekpri Ekondo Clan, and we have been disappointed by the continued negligence. We appeal once again to our ‘Sweet Prince,’ Governor Bassey Edet Otu, to please come and fix these roads for us,” he pleaded.
Another youth leader from Musaha Clan, Michael Eyo Inyang-Abasi, said erosion has destroyed homes, businesses, and even lives.
He recalled a tragic incident:
“A child going to school was swept into the gutter by erosion and died instantly. Many houses have been abandoned because the community floods every rainy day. My compound is submerged each time it rains.”
He added that the community lacks basic amenities. “We have no general borehole, no street lights, nothing that reflects the fact that we live in a state capital.”
A businessman, Okon Etim Eyoma, who was born and raised in the community, said decades of neglect have reduced their once-thriving area into a disaster zone.
“For the past forty years, this place has been abandoned by both past and present governments. I once posted a video pleading with the government to come and see the deplorable streets, but no one came. If nothing is done, this place may be swept away someday.”
Also lamenting the situation, Mrs. Bassey Okon, a women leader, said, “The terrible road conditions endanger our children, hinder access to markets, and worsen health emergencies. We beg the state government to rescue our neighbourhood.”
Another youth leader, Etubom Efiom Nya Lawrence, appealed for the inclusion of Kent and Esin Streets, which he said have not been rehabilitated in over 45 years.
A resident of Kent Street, Henshaw Eyoma-Obong, warned that people might boycott the 2027 general elections if the roads remain untouched.
“We trek long distances to fetch water. Our street has been forgotten for more than fifty years.”
Residents of Ephraim Street also recounted decades of failed promises.
“For over 30 years, governments have promised to fix both sides of this street, but only one side was done; the rest was abandoned,” said Mr. Asuquo Effiong Bassey.
Women in the area echoed similar concerns. Mrs. Grace Eyoma said, “Years of neglect have damaged homes, stalled businesses, and exposed families to flooding. We beg the government to rescue us.”
A resident of Nsisuk Street, Mrs. Faith Amos, wept as she spoke. “Pregnant women, schoolchildren, and traders suffer daily due to impassable routes. Fixing these streets will restore safety, security, and economic activity for us.”
Residents also identified other streets needing immediate rehabilitation, including Ekeng Ewa, Tete, Ansa Ewa Lane, Nsisuk, Inyang Ewa Lane, Imo Street, Johnstone Street, Ekeng Abia, McDonald Street, Bonny Street, Convent Street, Esiet Ebom, Nkwa, Efio-Edem, Edet Nsa, Anating, Punch Street, Lugard Street, and several others.
They insisted that only a comprehensive rehabilitation programme, not politically motivated patches, will restore Calabar South to its former pride.
Some completed or ongoing streets under Governor Otu’s interventions in Calabar metropolis include Nyong Edem Street, Eyo Edem Street, Wembley Street, Trenchard Street, part of Punch Street, Brook Street, Methodist Drive off Atamunu Street, Eniong Street, Etinyin-Abasi Street, Otomo Street, and Etim-Abasi Street. The reconstruction of the long-abandoned gully erosion site and gigantic gutter at Yellow Duke has also addressed years of severe erosion in the area. Additionally, there are numerous other infrastructure projects across the state and Calabar metropolis.
Similarly, residents from the Atamunu axis, who are experiencing turnaround rehabilitation, especially in road infrastructure, express joy, saying the Sweet Prince has not failed them and has shown himself to be a promise keeper.
One Mr. Ezekiel, a resident of Wembley Street, noted, “I am happy about the road; that is how to govern. The governor has kept his campaign promise.”
Mr. Uwem Sunday of Otomo Street said, “Governor Otu has done well; tarring Otomo is a dream come true.”
“I am happy, who will not be happy over a tarred road? At least it eases some stress,” another resident said.
Perez Thomas of Methodist Drive said, “Before now, we were in the dark.”
Mrs. Akon Ikpeme said, “I am grateful to our Sweet Prince because he has done a very nice job for us. However, the problem is that the gutter constructed was too small because they did not remove the concrete done by FOGIROLL years ago. The concrete was very hard, so they built on top of it, which causes flooding and submerges my house whenever it rains. I spend a fortune removing rubbish after rainfall.”
She added, “I am using this opportunity to call on the government to correct the error to avert further damage.”
Another resident of Methodist Drive, Perez Thompson, said, “Before now, this place was a deep gully site. It was a great surprise when our Sweet Prince came to our rescue and gave us a good road. Now we can move freely, both on foot and with vehicles. We are seeing more development, and street-light installation has already started. We are happy and pray God grants him the grace to do more.”
Equally, a resident of Oyo Effiom, who declined to be named, said, “We are experiencing flooding from Atamunu, no street lights, and although this road was awarded, we believe the money has been eaten. We have a blue number showing the contract was awarded, yet we are suffering. Our houses are submerged during the rainy season. We want the government to come to our aid,” he pleaded.
Responding to the outcry, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Affairs, Comrade Gill Nsa, who spoke on behalf of the state government, said the administration is aware of the concerns and is actively addressing infrastructure needs across the state.
Maintaining that delay does not mean abandonment, he said, “This government is a listening one. Residents should not lose hope. The fact that a particular road has not yet received attention does not mean it has been abandoned. Resources are being distributed strategically to meet current challenges.”
