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Truck Owners, Commuters Decry Losses on Calabar-Uyo Federal Highway

Published

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 02:54 PM

Written by Brenda Izu

Truck Owners, Commuters Decry Losses on Calabar-Uyo Federal Highway

Truck owners and commuters have voiced their concerns over the escalating losses caused by the deteriorating state of the Calabar-Uyo federal highway.

There are reports that the highway, which connects Cross River to Akwa Ibom and the southeastern region of Nigeria, has become notorious for accidents, vehicle damage, and the destruction of goods.

Frustrated truck owners on Tuesday, while speaking with journalists in Calabar expressed their dismay at the prolonged deterioration of the road, which has worsened over the years despite various promises of rehabilitation.

The road, vital for trade and transportation, has seen rehabilitation efforts stretch out for over a decade with little progress.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, inspected the road three months ago, during which he assured the public that contractors would return to the site to expedite repairs. However, despite these promises, the road remains in a state of disrepair, leading to continued hardship for road users.

One of the affected truck owners, Mr. Samson Etete, shared his recent ordeal with journalists, recounted how his truck, fully loaded with bags of rice and bottles of groundnut oil, crashed into a ditch on the highway. "This is another painful loss," he lamented. "My insurance had expired just days before the accident, and now, I have lost everything."

He further disclosed that a previous accident occurred along the same road near the Odukpani axis, resulting in minimal loss compared to this latest incident. In both cases, local residents looted the goods, leaving him unable to recover his losses.

Another road user, Mr. Edet Uforo, a truck driver, described the highway as a nightmare for motorists. He noted that on any given day, at least ten heavy-duty trucks and other vehicles break down or fall into the numerous ditches along the road. He cited the dangerously slippery conditions as a major contributing factor.

A frequent commuter, Mrs. Eno Johnson, also expressed frustration, stating that toppled trucks often block the road, causing severe traffic congestion. "Sometimes we spend the night on the road, exposed to danger because of these constant accidents," she remarked.

The road users pleaded for urgent attention to avoid continues threat to lives and businesses.

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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Truck Owners, Commuters Decry Losses on Calabar-Uyo Federal Highway

Truck owners and commuters have voiced their concerns over the escalating losses caused by the deteriorating state of the Calabar-Uyo federal highway.

There are reports that the highway, which connects Cross River to Akwa Ibom and the southeastern region of Nigeria, has become notorious for accidents, vehicle damage, and the destruction of goods.

Frustrated truck owners on Tuesday, while speaking with journalists in Calabar expressed their dismay at the prolonged deterioration of the road, which has worsened over the years despite various promises of rehabilitation.

The road, vital for trade and transportation, has seen rehabilitation efforts stretch out for over a decade with little progress.

He further disclosed that a previous accident occurred along the same road near the Odukpani axis, resulting in minimal loss compared to this latest incident. In both cases, local residents looted the goods, leaving him unable to recover his losses.

A frequent commuter, Mrs. Eno Johnson, also expressed frustration, stating that toppled trucks often block the road, causing severe traffic congestion. "Sometimes we spend the night on the road, exposed to danger because of these constant accidents," she remarked.

The road users pleaded for urgent attention to avoid continues threat to lives and businesses.

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