BENJAMIN JIMMY
Three communities in Etinan—Ikot Nte, Ikot Mfon, and Ikot Ese—along with the neighboring Ndiya village in the Nsit Ubium local government area of Akwa Ibom State, are facing a dire situation similar to a patient gasping for breath in order to survive.
However, they have chosen to place their hope in the fact that, at a time when the current governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, is promoting development from the rural areas to the cities, these communities, which have suffered years of neglect, will receive the governor's urgent interventions.
IKOT MFON COMMUNITY IN DISTRESS OVER COLLAPSED BRIDGE
For the Ikot Mfon community in Etinan Local Government Area, the story is one of pity, sadness, and sorrow. Unfortunately, this tragic situation has persisted and remains a source of pain for the people since 2011, when the bridge linking them to the Ndiya collapsed.
Since the bridge collapsed, more than three people, including schoolchildren, have lost their lives while trying to cross to the other side, which leads to Eket, Oron, and other local government areas in the state.
Speaking to journalists who visited the area over the weekend, Mr. Ekerette Maurice Akpan, who represented the village head, recounted that the community has endured much misery and sorrow.
The village head representative further informed journalists that, in addition to the difficult experiences of pupils and students, the collapsed bridge, which was strategically built along the Oron-Okpobo Road—a trunk A road—was purposefully constructed after the Nigerian Civil War to provide travelers with easy and quick access to Eket, Oron, and other areas for trade.
However, Mr. Akpan explained that its collapse has not only hindered this purpose and other developmental agendas but has also put the community on the brink of extinction.
He also recounted that the community had previously made efforts within its capacity to draw the attention of the state government to the situation, but he lamented that no tangible results were achieved.
"Since the bridge collapsed in 2011, more than three persons have lost their lives. Apart from that, we have also lost economic activities because these road and bridge are the only access points across to Ndiya from which one can access Eket, Oron and other parts of Akwa Ibom State".
Obong Safety Tony, the deputy village head of the community, addressed journalists at Ikot Mfon Market during a visit and expressed his concerns about the market, which serves as a vital gathering point for traders from both within and outside the area, being on the verge of closure.
He attributed this situation to the collapsed bridge, which has forced traders to abandon the area entirely, leaving the market in a state of decline.
Tony pointed out that the shabby, torn roof, along with the dilapidated structures and makeshift nature of the entire market, clearly demonstrates the long neglect of the market, and by extension, the bridge and the Oron-Okpobo Road.
Another member of the community, Mr. Gregory Frederick Ukpe, confirmed that the collapse of the bridge, which was another important economic gateway for Akwa Ibom, has made life more difficult than before. It has closed off all possibilities for the community to experience growth or attract people who could stimulate commerce and industry in the area.
He, however, pleaded with Governor Umo Eno to come to their aid and save them from the total extinction that is currently looming.
IKOT NTE COMMUNITY IN DIRE STRAITS
Ikot Nte village, a neighboring community near Ikot Mfon in the same Etinan area, is in dire straits. This situation is particularly challenging for students from the community who attend Community Commercial Secondary School in Ikot Nte, as well as for those from over seven other communities along the route. Every day, these students face long distances and various hardships as they trek to this school, which is the only secondary institution in the area.
Despite the distance that schoolchildren walk each day, the Community Secondary Commercial School in Ikot Nte is facing another challenge. The reason for this is the lack of infrastructure that should make a school a true center of knowledge. This absence has persisted for many years and has adversely affected student enrollment and the number of teachers willing to transfer to the institution.
The village head of Ikot Nte, Chief Joshua Amos, lamented the poor facilities and the complete absence of some essential services. He complained that this situation has kept the transfer of teachers to the school at an unacceptably low level.
He revealed that most teachers assigned to the school have consistently requested to be reassigned, citing a lack of access roads, electricity, teachers' quarters, and a poor teaching environment, among other reasons for their decisions.
"Many teachers have been posted to this school, but they would always work out their transfer and leave immediately. Their reasons are that there is no accessible road to the community, electricity, teachers' quarters, good teaching environment and other necessities that could guarantee their stay".
According to Mr. Jonathan Abasi-Ubong, the village project coordinator, these situations are directly linked to the collapsed bridge that once connected all the communities in the area, facilitating the movement of goods and services in and out.
He stated that the school and the communities would regain momentum by resuming their usual business activities if Governor Umo Eno would come to their aid.
This reporter recalls that in July 2023, Hon. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, the member representing the Etinan State Constituency, presented the issue of the collapsed Ikot Mfon/Ndiya bridge and the road, along with the need for immediate government intervention, before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Ekpo-Ufot, in his motion, noted that, in addition to the loss of lives, including schoolchildren, the collapsed bridge has cut off the residents of Ikot Mfon Village from their neighbors in Ndiya, where they used to access educational facilities and healthcare. He also pointed out that the collapsed bridge has severely impacted economic and social activities, as residents have been forced to use rickety canoes to reach other communities.
With the optimism expressed by the people that Governor Umo Eno will intervene in accordance with his rural development blueprint, it is hoped that life will soon return to those communities.
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