Cross River Orders Emergency Fixes on Damaged Calabar Road

(Bassey Otu. Photo Credit: Guardian Nigerian news)

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has ordered immediate remedial work on the failed portions of the Calabar-Odukpani Road, declaring that the safety and convenience of commuters will no longer be compromised by years of neglect.

The Calabar-Odukpani Road serves as a major gateway linking Calabar Metropolis to Odukpani, Akamkpa and other parts of the state, and its deplorable condition in recent months has drawn widespread public outcry.

The governor gave the directive on Monday during an inspection tour of critical sections along the Calabar corridor, where gully erosion and potholes have turned parts of the highway into death traps.

He said the inspection, which focused particularly on the failed sections of the Calabar/Odukpani Road, had further strengthened his administration's resolve to ensure that residents could move safely and conveniently.

The governor disclosed that he had directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to mobilise contractors to the affected areas without delay to begin emergency repairs, describing the restoration of the failed portions as an urgent priority.

He noted that while the emergency works would offer immediate relief to residents and motorists, the government was already designing a long-term engineering solution to put an end to the cycle of recurring failures on the road.

Otu stressed that his administration would not settle for patchwork solutions, insisting that it remained committed to developing infrastructure that is resilient, sustainable and built to serve future generations.

He added that every road restored and every project executed by his government was driven by a single objective, improving the quality of life for the people of Cross River State, and appealed to residents for patience and cooperation as government ramps up efforts to deliver lasting infrastructure across the state.