The people of Odukpani are observing what can only be described as a mournful anniversary, as the community surrounding the key junction that links Calabar to Awi and Akwa Ibom State continues to live without electricity for the ninth consecutive year.
The prolonged power outage, which has crippled local businesses, schools, and households, is attributed to the malfunctioning of the two electric transformers originally allocated to the Odukpani Junction area. Multiple appeals and intervention efforts by residents have yielded no tangible results, leaving the community in persistent darkness.
Residents have expressed deep frustration, describing the situation as “a shameful irony”, given that several indigenes of Odukpani currently occupy high-ranking political and administrative positions — including the Governor, Senator, House of Representatives Member, Directors-General, Chairmen, and Commissioners.
Despite this representation across multiple levels of government, no decisive action has been taken to restore power or provide new transformers to the community.
Local leaders and youth groups are now calling on relevant authorities, especially their sons and daughters in government, to end this decade-long blackout and prioritize the restoration of electricity to Odukpani, a strategic gateway between Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. “We have leaders everywhere, yet our homes are dark. Nine years without light is not just neglect its injustice,” one resident lamented.
The people of Odukpani remain hopeful that this renewed outcry will finally draw attention to their plight and prompt immediate action to restore power to the community.
