By Substance Udo-Nature
Every now and then what we hear is noise, noise, and more noise! No convincing action. When government is ready and frank about reconstructing the Calabar-Itu, it will be obvious to even the blind and deaf.
For the many years that have passed, we’ve been told that the project has either been quoted or removed from budgets when the budgets were padded; that billions of naira have either been released or were to be released in tranches; that contractors have either returned to site or have been summoned to do so, with threats for revocation of the contract. We have also heard of deadlines for completion of the project given and hyped by government media managers.
By today, not fewer than four successive Nigerian administrations, or presidents, including the incumbent, had made bogus promises and pronouncements on the deplorable Calabar-Itu Road. But no proof of their commitments to the about 50-year-old critically important road would be more convincing than a visit to the site as it is today. In spite of its socioeconomic significance, because the people’s age-long expectations on the Calabar-Itu Road have been crushed so many times, any recent advocacy or pronouncements on it must be bad music to the ear.
Indeed, if promises alone have worked in the last 30 years, for instance, then stories on reconstruction of that road, by today, would be stinkingly stale. But we all know that’s not the case. Rather, in spite of the road’s cyclical and alleged appearance in the national budgets, in spite of inspection visits by government teams, it has remained a bait for electioneering campaigns, especially to the two-sister State’s of Akwa Ibom and Cross River that are first line victims of broken promises by successive administrations. Suffice to state that discussions on this road has always been a matter of politics, or always become loud at the approach of election seasons.
Extant records indicate that the road was first constructed by Fougerole, a French construction firm, during the administration of late Brig. General Jacob Udoakaha Esuen as military governor of Old Cross River State in the 70s. But it started getting bad and increasingly worse in the last 30 years, within which period presidents have come and gone with stories of the bad condition of the road permanently on their lips.
This brings to light most recent alleged interventions. In September 2025, the House of Representatives and Senate joint committee on works visited the road “to see the extent of work done”. What we heard in consequence was that the committee members were shocked that the road still remains a death trap. Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee, was quoted telling journalists after the inspection that what they saw was disappointing and unacceptable.
The visit by the lawmakers was reportedly predicated on a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South Senatorial District. Let’s first hear Hanga:
“We were in the bus and we were lamenting. How we got here, I don’t know. I know that a few years ago, this project was awarded, but all of a sudden, we have the issue of moving from asphalt to concrete, which practically derailed the entire work here.
Even the part they say have been done, is not good. How do you get into Cross River from other parts of the country? We are cut off. Christmas is coming, an emergency needs to be on declared on this road.”
What this writer however is not convinced about is whether the lawmakers were truly shocked or surprised at what they saw real-time, beyond situation reports they may have been getting in the news from people like the Minister for Works, Engr. Dave Umahi. So long as Umahi was concerned, “work on Calabar-Itu Road was ongoing”, or maybe, “nearing completion” as His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu was determined to bring succour to the people.
Sen. Ekpenyong had in 2024 brought up the matter on the floor of the senate, literally begging government to intervene by approaching the situation with sincerity of heart. So, during the recent inspection, he recalled how a woman was forced to give birth prematurely while she was stuck on the road.
“This oversight was initiated almost a year ago by the motion I raised on the floor of the senate and that was instigated by the fact that this road has remained in this state of disrepair for several years. At some point last year in the course of the repairs, there was a traffic build-up and a lady who was about three months pregnant, her water broke and she delivered her baby in the car.
“I brought this to the floor of the senate. We went to work, summoned the ministry, summoned the contractors. We put as much fire under their belly and we are here now; we have not seen significant progress.
This has been an eye opener for my colleagues.”
Early this year, Umahi emitted fire and sulphur, issuing threats to contractors that the contract would be revoked. Intereetingly, many Nigerians have been asking if government has fulfilled its own part of the bargain. The fears have been that they may be something government has not told the Nigerians about this project. In the days of Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi, etc, the tunes were not different. They were wont to boasting that all was well with the road, that sufficient funds had been released for its completion. Fashola in particular even boasted that the deadline of July 2018. “By this time next year, stories on the road will have changed”, he said in July 2017. He left office with that promise.
Barely a month after assumption of office as Minister, Engr. Umahi did not only boast about completion of the Calabar-Itu Road but also the East-West Road. Please, take a ride there today and see things for your objective commentary.
Not long ago, the Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, also sounded came with a bouquet promises to activate dead buttons for action on this same road. While the never doubted his intentions, the past however was the problem.
Hence, the announcement by the Senators Ekpenyong and Hanga-led miracle workers might only amuse the gullible.
In other words, while every lawmaker’s and committee’s efforts must be commended, it cannot be forgotten that this is not the first time Nigerians have witnessed these dramas. In the main, it is doubtful if any ambitious lawmaker would shout too loud or be recklessly vociferous to the discomfort of political powers that determine matters.
The situation of the Calabar-Itu Road would perhaps have been condonable had there been no security issues for commuters who have resorted to using water to connect Cross River and Akwa Ibom State. Still, we are sure to get more promises in 2026 and 2027, the real years of political momentum. In fact, the stagnant story of the Calabar-Itu is what deepens my reservations on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway!
The fact remains that it is the commons who are actually the real victims, the sufferers – and the casualties. Of course, more and more States in the country are now acquiring airplanes and launching commercial airlines, to save the rich the discomfort of using land to connect their destinations. It is sad. Or have I heard someone said, “Very sad!”
