Calabar residents rate Cross River govt high on roads
Some residents of Calabar, last week rated as high, the Cross River government road development efforts in a city also tagged the "cleanest in Nigeria''.
According to the residents, people now travel with ease, especially in urban centres unlike what obtained in the 1990s.
A total of N4.488 billion out of the 2007 budget estimate of N39.851 billion was allocated to transport (Roads and Bridges) by the state Governor, Mr Donald Duke.
According to Duke, out of 269.26 km of urban roads estimated at N9.58 billion in 2006, 172.45 km were completed.
According to him, these were completed with asphalt surfacing, concrete drains and walkways in Calabar, Ugep, Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu Ranch Resort.
One of the residents, Mr Freedom Ekom, who expressed happiness with government performance said that the administration's intentions were ``largely transparent''.
``Roads in Calabar and other urban centres are now better than what they used to be in the 90's. We have better drains and even street lights now,'' Ekom said.
A primary school teacher, Mr Akpan Adie, also said: ``This government has sustained and maintained its urban and rural transformation drive, especially in areas of road construction."
``You can now travel from Calabar to Obudu, about six hours, with minimum effort, unlike before when we had sufficient potholes that could terminate any pregnancy," another resident, Alara Monday, said.
``I think Duke's effort in road development and maintenance has largely complemented government's strides in tourism development and agriculture," Bassey Edem, a tour guide said.
Duke had in at a recent event in Calabar said that in the state capital, 127.26km of roads were at an advanced stage of completion at a cost of N5.016 billion.
He also explained that 12.5km of roads in Ugep; 24km in Ikom and 12km at the Obudu Ranch Resort had been completed at the cost of N896 million; N1.6 billion and N700 million, respectively.
The Minister of Works, Mr Cornelius Adebayo, said in Calabar recently that the federal government would speed up the construction of Ikom-Obudu and Ikom-Ogoja roads to boost tourism drive.
But residents of Spring road in the Calabar metropolis expressed fears that the area might be washed off by gully erosion during the next rainy season.
Anthony Eshiet, a resident Pastor, Church of God Mission International, told newsmen in Calabar that the erosion appeared to have defied all solutions.
``The area has already been severely affected by erosion. The erosion appears to have defied solution by my Church members and other residents,'' he said.
He also called for urgent measures by the state government to prevent loss of lives and property.