The Grassroots Empowerment and Justice, GEJ Initiative, on Saturday, raised the alarm over deplorable state of roads in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.
This was made known by the National Coordinator, GEJ Initiative, Ebriku John Friday, while
speaking on the frustration of people over the years because of poor conditions of the roads, which include Okuku-Okpoma road, Ijeliegu, Aliforkpa roads in Yache and those in Gabu communities all in Yala 1 Constituency as well as Yahe-Ebo road.
He said: “We are really concerned with the deplorable state of major roads in parts of Cross River State that are the network of roads that keep the state moving in terms of commercial activities and others.
“The people suffering right now are those in Yala Local Government Area of the state.
“The Grassroots Empowerment and Justice, GEJ Initiative, have visited the roads in question begging for the state government’s attention include Okuku-Okpoma Road, Ijiegu, Aliforkpa Roads in Yache and those in Gabu communities which are all in Yala 1 Constituency as well as Yahe-Ebo Road.
“Other roads include, Wanihem-Wanikom-Benue road in Yala 2 Constituency.”
According to Friday, the bad shape of roads has crippled economic activities including farming and other means of survival of the rural people who are already grappling with poverty and now the situation has been compunded with the collapse of the roads that were keeping hopes alive.
“The terrible conditions of the roads mentioned are really impacting negatively on the rural economy and the people are down whose living conditions are still below the poverty line. Now with this state of roads their situation has been compunded and that is why we are calling for ‘Save Our Souls’ on the Governor, Prof Been Ayade, for him to put in place measures that would cushion the effects the roads are having on the people”, he said.
He also acknowledged the motion raised on the floor of the Cross River State House of Assembly recently by the House Member representing Yala 2 State Constituency, Hon Cynthia Nkasi, over the terrific road conditions in her area for urgent state government’s attention and intervention to fix them promptly.
