ABUJA, Nigeria – A prominent legal practitioner, Monday Ubani, SAN, has issued a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu for immediate intervention in the long-abandoned Ikwuano/Ikot Ekpene Road project, a critical infrastructure link between Abia and Akwa Ibom States that has remained stalled since its award in 2019.
In a worded letter dated April 7, 2025, and delivered through the Chief of Staff to the President, Ubani expressed deep concern over what he described as “unbearable suffering” endured by road users along the dilapidated route.
He warned that the continued neglect of the highway has become not only a logistical nightmare but a growing public safety risk.
“The road, which is a major link between Abia and Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, has become a death trap. Accidents have become frequent and fatal,” Ubani wrote.
“Today, we feel clearly disadvantaged and neglected, and the condition is no longer palatable.”
The project was originally awarded under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with the Ministry of Works — then headed by Mr Babatunde Fashola — overseeing the contract.
The work was awarded to Hartland Construction Company at a cost running into several billions of naira.
Following funding setbacks, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had stepped in to assume financial responsibility, a move that had initially raised hopes among residents.
However, more than six years later, the project remains incomplete. Ubani, who is also a native of Ikwuano in Abia State, said he had made several personal visits to the contractor, but found progress elusive.
“On different occasions, they cited varying reasons: sometimes funding issues, and at other times, they blamed the heavy rains,” he stated.
“They consistently promised that after the rainy season of last year, they would resume fully and complete the project. Unfortunately, after the rains subsided, the pace of work was not only slow but eventually came to a complete halt.”
Ubani warned that the economic, social, and human costs of the road’s poor state are severe, impacting agriculture, trade, education, and mobility across the South-East and South-South regions.
He called on President Tinubu to urgently direct the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, to investigate the cause of the stagnation and take immediate action to resume and complete the construction.
“We are confident in your leadership and your commitment to equitable infrastructure development across Nigeria through your Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ubani added.
“The people of Ikwuano will be eternally grateful if your administration addresses this critical matter before the rains return and worsen an already dire situation.”
The letter was also copied to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi.
As the rainy season approaches, stakeholders in the affected regions await a response from the Presidency, hoping that the call for action will translate into tangible results after years of anticipation.
