CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE
A major transport route for Nigeria, the Odukpani-Calabar highway, has severely degenerated, creating a crippling transport crisis and turning the route into a “death trap.” The road, which is part of the larger Calabar-Itu-Uyo network, is a key gateway for the haulage of petroleum products, construction materials, and food produce from northern Nigeria to the South-South and South-East regions.
The highway’s deplorable condition is characterized by massive potholes, eroded sections, and collapsed portions, which impede all forms of movement.
The most critical point of the failure lies in the Okrikang section of this Federal Highway, which has become the epicenter of the transport crisis.
The road’s severely deteriorated state leads to daily gridlock, primarily caused by fallen and broken-down heavy-duty trucks. The situation is particularly dire around the Okrikang Junction, where the compromised road surface frequently causes heavy articulated vehicles, including tankers and haulage trucks, to tip over or break down, effectively blocking the flow of commerce and traffic.
