A Civil Society Organization, Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network, CHRAN), Akwa Ibom State branch has expressed worry over Governor Umo Eno’s inability to commence construction work on some road projects he flagged off five months ago.

Chairman of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong alongside the group’s Secretary, Christopher Ekpo made the observation when the leadership of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists paid him a courtesy in Uyo on Thursday.

CHRAN listed such roads to include Tabernacle Road, off Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo and Ikot Ada Idem/Ikot Oku Ikono Road, Ikot Ekan/Ediene Abak Road, Idoro Road (Berger Junction)/Okobo Ibiono Ring Road among others.

The group also revealed that contractors handling road construction across the state, particularly, within the Uyo metropolis, usually leave the approaches to the constructed roads unaligned, thereby putting the lives of road users, especially motorists, at risk.

It listed the unaligned approaches to include those along the Oron Road, Airport Road, Expansion Project from Mbiabong Timber Market junction to Victor Attah International Airport; all approaches to the roads along Idongesit Nkanga Dual Carriage Way (Ring Road III), Uyo, from the Roundabouts at Nwaniba to the Roundabouts at Oron Road and to the Roundabouts at Aka Nung Udoe Road;

Others are all approaches to the roads along Chief Sampson Udo Idiong Dual Carriage Way (Ring Road II) from Aka Road to Abak Road; all approaches to the Ikot Oku Ikono/Etinan Dual Carriage Way, among others.

CHRAN observed that so many streets, like Akpa Ubeh Street along Chief Sampson Udo Idiong Dual Carriageway, Ring Road II, have been rendered inaccessible after the construction of Ring Road II, Ring Road III, Oron Road (Airport Road) Expansion project and Ikot Oku Ikono/Etinan Dual Carriage Way projects and urged that the contractors that executed these road projects be directed to return to these projects to correct these anomalies.

The group also called on the State Government to always ensure effective monitoring and supervision of road projects to ensure that approaches to roads under construction are properly aligned to check erosion and safeguard the roads.

The CHRAN drew attention to the plight of the people of Afia Nsit No.1 in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State who lack access road and who have recently lost the only public school in their community to the Nigerian Army, and whose stream, the only source of water supply, has been polluted and destroyed by the uncompleted and abandoned drainage embarked upon by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

CHRAN also expressed dismay that despite the sharp increase in monthly federal allocations to the State Government and the 31 local governments occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, an overwhelming majority of the people of Akwa Ibom State are living in abject poverty and enduring untold hardship.

Earlier, the Correspondents Chapel of the NUJ led by Mr. Anthony Bassey said the visit was to solicit continuing partnership with CHRAN, expressing the belief that CHRAN will continue to extend its hand of fellowship to the Correspondents Chapel.