November 15, (THEWILL) – A civil society organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network has urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to address the poor state of over 60 roads and streets riddled with potholes across the Uyo metropolis.
The Director of the organisation, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, made the call during an interaction with our correspondent on the worsening road infrastructure within the state capital.
While acknowledging the developmental strides of Governor Umo Eno, he called for a critical review of the roles and performance of the Ministry of Works and Fire Service, as well as the Akwa Ibom Road and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency.
He stressed the need for these agencies to live up to expectations in addressing the dire state of roads in Uyo and other parts of the state.
According to Isong, despite the availability of functional road construction equipment in AKROIMA’s yard along Airport Road, the agency has remained largely inactive under Eno’s administration.
He noted that AKROIMA was allocated substantial funds for capital projects in the 2024 state budget, alongside regular disbursement for salaries, imprests, and allowances in its recurrent expenditure.
Yet, the agency continues to rely on external contractors to fix potholes and repair roads, often at exorbitant costs borne by taxpayers.
He said, “It is concerning that an agency established by law to maintain roads is outsourcing its core responsibilities despite having adequate resources.”
CHRAN urged the governor to ensure that all government ministries, departments, and agencies align with his administration’s ARISE Agenda to deliver democratic dividends.
The organisation also recommended establishing a feedback mechanism to independently assess the performance of appointees and MDAs, ensuring accountability and efficiency.
“The governor must prioritise a system where the voices of Akwa Ibom people are heard and used to appraise the performance of government officials,” Isong added.
