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From Joe Effiong, Uyo
Residents of some riverine communities in Akwa Ibom have expressed fears that the ongoing rains may cut them from the rest of the state just as it has happened to the people of Mkpok in Eket council whose road has been washed away by the flood.
Continuous heavy rains with the accompanying floods had destroyed gutters along the said Mkpok Road in Eket, leading to the collapse of the road, even as some other roads like All Weather, Ediam, Idua, Umana Ndon and other adjoining streets in Eket are also being threatened.
Residents of the area, especially those along Mkpok Road have sent save our souls messages and appealed to the state government to urgently commence remedial work on the collapsed road to save the lives of people in the area.
Former chairman of Mkpok village council, Franklin Udohuyo, who lamented the collapsed road, described it as unfortunate, saying the failed road started showing signs of deterioration about a year ago.
Udohuyo said prior to when the road collapsed, he informed Governor Emmanuel about the poor condition of the road, and had advised that if not repaired, it would deter the people from voting in 2023.
“It is very pathetic, the failed road started last year and nothing was done about it until recently when the whole thing collapsed.
“It is very unfortunate, if they followed the previous report, it wouldn’t have been to this level but there was negligence on the side of the state government.
“I don’t know how the contractors actually handled the job. I don’t know how the children at Mkpok Primary School will be going to school,” he said.
Udohuyo said the collapsed road has affected both businesses and mobility of people in the area, adding that it is one of the major roads accessing five villages around the area.
He said the contractor commissioned by the Niger Delta Development Commission to construct the road failed to follow the contract specification for the work, adding that the job was done without a environmental impact assessment.
