Youths of Ikom, Boki and Etung local governments area in Cross River State have staged a peaceful protest on the Ikom-Obudu Federal Highway, demanding the repair of the dilapidated road.
The protesters, carrying placards, vowed not to participate in the 2027 general elections unless the road is fixed.
“We will not participate in the 2027 general elections if this road is not fixed,” one of the youths said.
According to one of the youth leaders in Ikom local government area who spoke on the issue during the protest yesterday, Comrade Adam Asuquo, “the road has been abandoned for over 20 years and the youths described it as a traveller’s nightmare.
“This road is a major obstacle to our development and it’s time something is done about it,” another protester said.
The 115km Ikom-Obudu road cut across five local governments in the state and is a key route for economic activities.
“The road’s condition is hampering our economic growth, and it’s unacceptable,” a youth leader stated.
The protesters have called on their elected representatives, including Senator Eteng Williams, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, and House of Representatives member for Ikom/Boki federal constituency, Victor Abang, to prioritize the road project.
“We urge our leaders to fix this road before the rainy season,” one of the protesters said.
The youths also appealed to the state governor Bassey Otu, to intervene in the matter. “The government must act now to save this road,” another protester added.
The protesters noted that five elected National Assembly members are responsible for the road’s maintenance, and it’s time they took action. “Our representatives must be held accountable for this neglected road,” a protest leader said.
The protest highlights the frustration and desperation of the people in the affected areas, who are seeking relief from the poor road conditions.
Commenting on the issue , paramount ruler, Ikom local government area, HRH Takon Atangba, advised the protesting youths to be calm, and not to resort to violence.
Atangba appealed to the authorities concerned, appealing to president Bola Tinubu to come to their aid by swinging into action to rehabilitate Ikom -Obudu federal high way to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ikom, Etung and Boki local government areas whose economy are at the moment sloping downward as a result of the bad road.
The royal father asked the youths to unblock the highway to allow road users plying on motorcycles access the road to their farms to convey agricultural produce back home.
