Following the motion moved by the incumbent senator representing Cross River South at the 10th National Assembly late last week, it has become important that a statement credited to the out-gone member representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency at the 9th House of Representatives be brought up.
This statement by Rt. Hon. Daniel ‘Dansuki’ Asuquo bothering on the Calabar-Oban-Ekang Road is important because it will give context to the motion raised by Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr at the floor of the 10th Senate touching on the same road network.
According to Sen. Ekpenyong Jnr., the Calabar-Oban-Ekang Road has the status of an ongoing project in the 2023 appropriation act with the sum of N250, 000, 000 being appropriated already.
Whereas, Hon. Asuquo has disclosed that the sum released was just for 5km of the said collapsed road. He said, ‘We fought seriously in the National Assembly for this road to be given the needed attention, and the contract was awarded to Setraco, but unfortunately, they were mobilized to construct only 5kilometres. Where do you begin with such on a road that has 13bridges and over 90culverts? 
‘This is a border road, so much is generated here but since the bridge collapsed, life has been difficult, revenue lost, etc. You can cultivate your crops and don’t have a road to take your produce to the market. Federal Government and the State government generate so much from Akamkpa yet we are the most maligned and marginalized local government.
‘This is the time to show working and address this issue once and for all. Let no one deceive you, the state or local government cannot do this road, so much is going into debt servicing, from where will the state have the funds to do anything here? All we have been doing before now is remediation works which I use to contribute but that is not what we are here for’.
Continuing Daniel Asuquo disclosed that, ‘I want the contractor to commence work immediately but you must make little sacrifices to help us actualize this either in manpower, wood, or anything that will expedite the progress of work in having the alternative bridge to convey your goods. I have seen first-hand what you are all passing through, leaving the issue unattended will be the height of insensitivity’.
Asuquo made the above statement while addressing the people of New Ndebiji and Akor after the bridge collapsed sometime in September 2022.
