Youth from five local government areas in Cross River State have united in a peaceful protest to demand urgent government intervention on a deteriorating federal road that has claimed several lives and disrupted economic activities in the region.
By Victoria Omini.
The protest, led by Chief Assam Martins Etta PhD, Councillor of the National Youth Council of Nigeria for Abo Ward in Boki Local Government Area, brought together young people from Ikom, Etung, Boki, Obanliku and Obudu. The demonstrators described the road as a death trap that has brought untold hardship to communities across the area.
Speaking during an interview at the protest ground, Chief Etta said the people could no longer remain silent while lives continue to be lost due to the deplorable condition of the road.
“Our people have suffered for so many years because of the bad nature of this road. This road has been consuming lives. It has become a death trap,” he said. “What used to be a right of way has turned into something that endangers everyone who uses it.”
According to him, the road, though classified as a federal road, has deteriorated to the point where it no longer resembles a functional roadway. He described sections of it as overgrown and impassable, likening it to a jungle rather than a motorable route.
The youth leader called on the state governor to address the people and outline concrete plans for intervention, stressing that the communities feel abandoned despite the economic value the road generates for government.
“This road provides so much revenue. Tolls are collected on agricultural produce such as banana, coconut and cocoa. Yet the same road has been neglected for years,” he said.
Chief Etta maintained that the protest would remain peaceful but warned that the youth were prepared to escalate their actions if there was no response from the authorities. He disclosed that the first phase of the protest would last four days, after which the group would mobilise to the governor’s office if their demands were not met.
“We are serious about this. We are united in purpose. We are doing our best to keep this process peaceful and it will remain peaceful. That is our promise,” he stated. “But if the government does not respond, we will move to the next phase.”
He added that the youth would continue to sensitise and mobilise their communities, insisting that their objective was not confrontation but the protection of lives and the restoration of safe passage on the road.
Also speaking, Comrade Martins Etta, who is leading the protest and serves as the NYCN Councillor for Abo Ward in Boki Local Government Area, reiterated that the demonstration was driven by genuine concern for human lives.
“Why are we here? We are on a peaceful protest because of the nature of this road. People are dying. Just today, we had a case of a woman travelling for medical treatment who fell ill because of the terrible condition of the road. She did not survive,” he said.
He further highlighted the economic implications of the road’s neglect, citing revenue generated from cocoa production in the region. According to him, if an estimated one million bags of cocoa are charged two hundred naira per bag annually, government revenue could exceed 1.6 billion naira.
“With such revenue, this road can be constructed to serve the people for decades. We are tired of this neglect. We have decided to lend our voice so that the government will hear us and act,” he said.
The protesting youth emphasized their commitment to lawful and peaceful engagement while urging relevant authorities to treat the matter with urgency. For the communities across the five local government areas, the demand is clear: a safe and motorable road that protects lives and supports economic growth.
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