The five-day protest by youths of Boki and Ikom local government areas in central Cross River State entered its fourth day on Thursday, as angry demonstrators continued to block the Ikom–Obudu highway, crippling traffic movement.

The protesters, who have barricaded the road since Monday, expressed outrage over the deplorable condition of the highway, which spans about 80 kilometres and has reportedly been abandoned for decades.

The leader of the protesting youths, Njor Raymond, who said he lost a leg in an accident on the road, declared that there would be no election in the area in 2027 if the highway was not fixed.

According to him, “We have had enough. This road has destroyed many lives and property over the years. If this road is left in this condition, there shall be no election in this area. They can cast our votes in their homes, but not here.”

Raymond explained that the five-day protest was meant to forewarn authorities to act promptly in order to avoid future escalation of grievances.

A female protester, who identified herself as Aduma Alice, lamented that Cross River State has some of the worst road infrastructure in the country, accusing the Federal Government of neglect.

“Thousands of vehicles come here weekly to evacuate timber, plantain and bananas, and taxes are paid to the government.

Yet they refuse to address the condition of this road, which was constructed during General Gowon’s regime in the oil boom era,” she said. She echoed the position of the youth leader, insisting on “no road, no election” in the area.

Reacting to the protest, the member representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Victor Abang, PhD, expressed concern over the deteriorating state of the highway, describing the situation as long overdue for intervention.

Abang said the patience of his constituents had worn thin due to the prolonged hardship and frustration caused by the deplorable condition of the Ikom–Obudu federal highway.

Addressing the protesters, the lawmaker appealed to them to temporarily suspend the demonstration, assuring them that efforts were underway to address their concerns.

He called for restraint among the protesting youths and residents, urging them to remain calm and law-abiding, and to vacate the roadway in the interest of public safety and the free movement of commuters. He noted that deliberate legislative and executive efforts were already ongoing to facilitate the rehabilitation of the affected federal infrastructure.

Abang explained that Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State had engaged the Federal Government — under whose jurisdiction the road falls — to ensure the commencement of immediate remedial works and comprehensive reconstruction of the dilapidated sections.

He acknowledged the frustrations of his constituents, describing their concerns as legitimate.

They have endured prolonged hardship, economic losses and safety risks due to the deteriorating condition of the expressway,” he said.

The lawmaker reassured the people that the concerns of the Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency had been formally escalated through appropriate legislative channels, adding that necessary government procurement and administrative processes were being finalised to enable prompt intervention.

He reiterated his commitment to effective representation and sustained engagement with relevant federal and state authorities to ensure that critical infrastructure deficits affecting the constituency receive urgent attention. He urged residents to continue expressing their grievances peacefully while allowing institutional processes to produce tangible results. (Vanguard)

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