August 11, (THEWILL) – Residents of Ikpa Road in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have cried out to the state government to intervene and save the lives of the residents from a threatening ravine.
Our Correspondent, who visited the area, reports that three buildings have collapsed even as others are being threatened by the fast encroaching ravine.
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, a Councillor representing Ward 14, Oku 3, Mr. Mmenyene Abasi Michael Okon, said the erosion has constituted a big challenge to the community, adding that in order to prevent visitors falling into the ravine, the youth mobilised themselves to keep vigil in the area just to direct people to the other side of the road.
He said they took video clips of the situation and sent it to the state government to address the situation.
He said: “We woke up to see this disaster. We have tried our efforts to organise the youths to stand here and control the vehicles going to Uyo City Polytechnic, Barracks Roads, Calabar-Itu and many other places.
“The schools that are inside here, the students cannot have free access to school to receive lectures. So Keke stops here and then the youth will direct them on how to go to the other side so that they will not eventually fall into the ravine.
“I have personally spent four nights here because when it happened some people did not know that something like was going on. So by putting on light, we have been able to save a lot of people from speeding into the ravine. This is how far we have gone.
“We have taken video clips and pictures of the ravine and sent it to the state government and I believe that Governor Udom Emmanuel has seen it.”
One of the Keke NAPEP operators, Mr. Joseph Umah, said since the problem started, he hardly went home.
Umah explained: “Since this incident happened, I have never entered my house in the afternoon because there is no road for me to pass. I tried the Urua Ikpa side, even that one there is a problem. My family is down there, they used to come here and collect money from me. So the government should do something about this road.”
Responding, the state Commissioner of Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr. Charles Udoh, said there is nothing the state government can do now until the rains stop.
He appealed to residents to understand with the state government adding the engineering drawings have been completed waiting for the rain to stop.
“There is nothing we can do now. We can’t start work until after the rain because there is no equipment that can enter that place for now. I have explained this severally to the people that even if there is money, there is no way we can do it now,” Udoh said.
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