Senate Summons Works Minister Umahi After Senator Ekpenyong Calls for Immediate Completion of Odukpani-Itu Highway

Senate Summons Works Minister Umahi After Senator Ekpenyong Calls for Immediate Completion of Odukpani-Itu Highway

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to address the prolonged delay in completing the rehabilitation of the Odukpani-Itu Highway in Cross River State.

This directive followed a motion of urgent national importance presented by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) and co-sponsored by Senator Ekong Sampson (PDP, Akwa Ibom South) during Wednesday’s plenary session.

Senator Ekpenyong expressed concern over the deteriorating state of the highway, which serves as a critical link between major cities, including Itu in Akwa Ibom State, and hosts significant economic and tourism activities. The road, he noted, has suffered neglect for years, adversely impacting the economic viability of both Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

“The highway is not just a route; it is a lifeline for commerce and tourism,” Ekpenyong said. He highlighted its importance as a transit route to popular tourist destinations like the Obudu Mountain Resort and the Agbokim Waterfalls, as well as its role in facilitating the movement of solid minerals from Cross River’s quarries and petroleum products from the Calabar Port to other parts of the country.

Senator Sampson echoed these concerns, lamenting the hardship faced by commuters and the economic toll on the two states. He urged his colleagues to support the motion to ensure the highway’s timely completion.

Other senators, including Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), voiced their support. Dickson emphasized the highway’s potential to boost economic activities across the South-South region if properly rehabilitated.

Following a unanimous vote, the Senate mandated its Committee on Works to investigate the challenges impeding the project and report back within a stipulated timeframe. It also urged the Federal Government to prioritize the highway’s completion.

The committee was instructed to summon Umahi and other top officials of the Federal Ministry of Works to provide explanations and outline a clear path toward completing the project.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, reiterated the Senate’s commitment to addressing infrastructure deficits across the nation, calling on the Federal Government to treat the highway as a national priority.

The Odukpani-Itu Highway, a vital corridor for regional trade and development, remains a critical issue for residents and stakeholders in the South-South region.