By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
CALABAR—Akamkpa community in Cross River State has decried the deplorable state of the abandoned Akamkpa-Nsan-Oban road, which links Nigeria and Cameroon, and called on the member representing Biase/Akamkpa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Daniel Asuquo, to lobby those concerned to ensure that contract on the road was re-arwarded.

Apart from the road, the community also appealed to the lawmaker, who they described as their worthy ambassador, to use his position to attract federal institutions that would service the over 40 indigenous companies in the area.

Chairman, Ntufam Council Group of Villages and Village Head of Akamkpa, Ntufam Paul Ogar made this known in an interview with Vanguard in his palace at Akamkpa.

Ntufam Ogar said the construction of the road abandoned over 20 years ago would improve the economic relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon. He said the community was in dire need of federal presence and called for the establishment of a technical school to train youths for the development of the area.

Erosion menace

A lecturer with University of Calabar and Chairman Publicity Committee for the Reception of Asuquo, Dr. Ralph Offiong, noted that Biase Local Government Area, which is within the constituency, was facing coastal erosion problems, especially the Agwagwune axis, adding that a lot of lives and property had been lost due to the menace.

He said Asuquo, popularly known as Dansuku, as Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government from 1999 to 2003, empowered many youths financially and encouraged them on self-help.

He added that Asuquo’s giant stride as the council chairman earned him the award of best chairman in the country in 2002.