Dualization of Calabar/Odukpani Junction Road; Wild Jubilation and Commendations For Gov. Ayade

Prof. Ben Ayade 

Emmanuel Ulayi - Calabar
A cross section of residents of Cross River state and motorists have showered encomiums on Governor Ben Ayade for the commencement of the dualisation of the road from Calabar to Odukpani Junction.



The people who were full of praises said the decision of the Prof. Ayade-led administration to embark on the dualisation of the road, which although is a federal project shows that the governor has the Midas touch to external encumbrances that forestalls development in the state.

Some of the residents and motorists who spoke maintained that with the commencement of the work, the incessant traffic hold-up at the Odukpani Junction that often spans up to eight  miles in Calabar thereby becoming a night mare to road users for decades is now a thing of the past

A top civil  servant in the state Joe Lifu said the dualisation of the road was a New Year gift from the governor to the people of the state.

“I must say this is a New Year gift to the commuters in Calabar who have gone through hell in the past years passing through this road. With this development we can heave a sigh of relief and I commend the Governor for taking the bull by the horns because this is a federal road but he has heard the cries of his people and decided to dualise it. More grease to his elbows”.

Also speaking, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Odukpani, who gave his name as Gabriel lamented that series of appeals to the federal government to assuage the plight of road users plying the route have yielded no results in the past.

According to him, sometimes, travellers had to postpone their journeys, even when exigencies are involved due to the blockage of the road as a result of a vehicle accident.

“Our digital Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade is God sent- that is the only thing I can say. Because we have been crying and begging the federal government for years to come to our rescue to no avail. But here we are today, having this road dualised. It is indeed a miracle”.

Continuing, Gabriel noted that “before this dualisation, many travellers had to postpone their journeys even when they have very pressing issues to attend to just because either a trailer fell and blocked the road or there is another accident. It was so bad. But we pray for Governor Ayade that he should continue and we will vote for him even 50 times, again and again”, he stated.

Also commenting, a medical doctor, Dr. Julius Odey expressed regrets how some pregnant women lost their lives as a result of the deplorable condition of the road. He commended the governor for his intervention and appealed to other government appointees and politicians to emulate Ayade’s developmental stride.

“I know of many expectant mothers and other patients who could not make it to the hospital on time because of the sorry state of this road. But if this road is dualised, such issues will be permanently sorted out and we will cease losing patients.

“I think Governor Ayade and his team deserves accolades. This is the most cheering news I have heard in this New Year and I urge every resident of the state to commend the present administration for its foresight”, he said.

In his estimation, a haulage driver, Papa commended the governor for considering the dualisation of the Calabar-Odukpani junction road as one the first projects in the year 2018 expressing optimism that the dualisation would increase the volume of trade and economic activities to Calabar.

“We are happy and we pray that God will bless this man (Governor Ayade). He is doing very well and I don’t think there is anybody that will not want him to come back in 2019> if other governors were doing like this, people will not be complaining. To me, he is the people’s governor and I will campaign for him”, he stated.