The story of Ikot Udoma Estate Road in Eket is no longer just a tale of seasonal inconvenience—it is a full-blown crisis that demands urgent intervention. Once a vital link connecting residents to the bustling Idua Road, Jamestown Junction, and the strategic Eket–Oron Road, this passageway has devolved into a flood-ravaged nightmare that threatens both life8 and property.
During the rainy season, the road becomes a waterlogged maze. Motorists stall mid-transit, bikers slip into hidden ditches, and tricycle operators fight against rising waters to keep their balance. For school children, who tread this path daily, it’s a minefield. From nursery to tertiary institutions, their journey to education has become one of survival.
“I saw a child swept away by the current last year. It was the most helpless moment of my life,” recounts a local shopkeeper.
Beyond the visible danger, homes along the road suffer silently. Floodwaters routinely invade living spaces, destroying furniture, electronics, and even food stocks. Families are forced to elevate beds, unplug appliances, and live in fear of electrocution or structural collapse. The psychological toll is immense—children waking up to submerged bedrooms, parents worrying about safety with every thunderstorm.
Criminals, too, have capitalized on the chaos. Dense bushes bordering the flooded stretch have become hideouts for thieves and suspected kidnappers. Schoolbags, phones, and even small children are targets in what residents are now calling “the valley of fear.” Making matters worse, some police officers stationed nearby reportedly exploit the situation—extorting stranded commuters, especially keke operators and bikers, under the guise of checking vehicular papers and crowd control.
The environmental degradation and social dysfunction converging on Ikot Udoma Estate Road represent a humanitarian emergency. What’s at stake isn’t just infrastructure—it’s dignity, security, and the right to move safely through one’s own community.
Governor Umo Eno, whose administration has championed community renewal, is urgently called to act. Remedial action must include:
- Strategic flood control infrastructure to drain water and stabilize the terrain
- Complete road reconstruction with weather-resistant materials
- Bush clearance and improved lighting to deter crime
- Community-based monitoring to curb extortion and abuse by law enforcement
This road, while visibly broken, carries the pulse of Eket. Repairing it is not just a project—it is a promise to protect the lives it serves.
Akwa Ibom cannot afford to wait. Let the rescue begin.
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