A joint committee of the National Assembly has declared a state of emergency on the dilapidated and slow-moving Calabar-Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway, following an inspection tour that left lawmakers ‘disappointed.’
The decision came after a weekend assessment visit by the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Works, led by Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee, and Hon. Akin Alabi, Chairman of the House Committee.
The lawmakers’ inspection was a direct follow-up to a motion of national importance moved almost a year ago, on November 20, 2024, by the Senator representing Cross River South, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, who urged the Federal Government to investigate the project’s slow progress.
That initial motion had triggered several public hearings by the Senate Committee on Works, which led to the termination and subsequent re-awarding of some contracts for the critical road.
However, the latest on-site evaluation revealed that the expected progress had not been made, prompting the drastic declaration.
In a statement, Sen. Ekpenyong, who was part of the delegation, expressed his and the committee’s overall disappointment with the current state of work.
He revealed that the Joint Committee would now initiate a Public Hearing to resolve the persistent challenges plaguing the vital highway.
The declaration of a state of emergency is considered particularly critical with the approaching Christmas season, which typically sees an exponential increase in traffic on the road.
The highway serves as a major commercial artery for the movement of passengers, construction materials, agricultural produce, and petroleum products from Cross River State to the entire South-South region.
Sen. Ekpenyong also extended gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his ‘commitment to infrastructural upgrade in the country,’ while pleading for ‘sustained attention be given to this vital corridor.’
He thanked the President of the Senate and the entire National Assembly leadership for their support, as well as Governors Bassey Otu of Cross River State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State for their hospitality during the committee’s stops in Calabar and Uyo.
The lawmaker concluded by underscoring that the entire exercise highlights the importance of legislative oversight, a key function of the National Assembly that ensures accountability, transparency, and the effective implementation of government projects for the benefit of all Nigerians.