BY: Nick Nwaneri, Calabar
The Hon. Commissioner for rural Transformation in Cross River, Hon. Edem Okokon Effiom, has completed the grading of 10 kilometer road network in Bakassi local government area.
The road which spans from Ikot Iwang junction to Esuk Okon in Bakassi local government will alleviate the suffering of the indigenes living in these communities
Speaking to pressmen, the Village Head of Esuk Okon, Chief Asuquo Okon Ekpo, said it has been over seven years since these communities were visited by any government.
According to him, “it has always been promises after every election but was full of praises for the Commissioner whom he said God has used to remember us”.
Chief Ekpo said “apart from fishing which we are known for, we are also farmers but lack of access roads to bring out our farm produce use to be a very serious challenge to us because no body was willing to come in here.
Reason, “there were no access roads as a result “we will sale our farm products at giveaway prices which doesn’t help us”.
Speaking a women leader in the area, Madam Josephine Bassey, said because of lack of access roads life in the communities became very unbearable.
.She said “to get a bike from Ikang to Esuk Okon, you pay not less than five hundred naira against two hundred naira on a normal situation.”
“To get transport from Ikang to our village will cost nothing less than five hundred naira, but today I thank our commissioner for what he has done. God will bless him for remembering us”, she added.
A former Deputy Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Hon. Patrick Antigha Ene, who is also from that community was full of praises for the commissioner for creating access roads of more than ten kilometers stretch for their community
.
He said, “is only God that will reward him”.
Another community leader who gave his name as Chief Asuquo from ikot Iwang, said that the access roads will help even INEC in the forthcoming elections to bring in materials easily unlike before when the terrain was very difficult.
He also added that, the area served as safe heaven for kidnappers to carryout their neferious trade, noting that those activities can not take place here again because the place is open.
He advised Cross Riverians in position of authority to always remember to do something to develop their communities without waiting for the government as government alone can not do everything if we must develop fast.
He thanked the commissioner for what he has done and urged others to emulate the him.
The commissioner had earlier graded 6.7kilometers road network in Atim-Asam in Akpabuyu local government area and another 3.6kilometer was also graded sometimes late last year in Etomkpe all in Akpabuyo through a personal effort.