Hon. Abang Pius Besong, popularly known as AB Amani Jojo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu and other top government officials to urgently intervene in the worsening Boki road conditions affecting communities in the Local Government Area.
Besong made the appeal in an open statement titled “An Open Appeal to Save Boki Nation: Our Road, Our Life, Our Survival,” calling on state and federal authorities to take immediate steps to address the road challenges confronting residents.
He said the poor condition of the road connecting communities in Boki with Ikom and other parts of Cross River State had made movement difficult for motorists, farmers, traders and other road users.
According to him, Boki is blessed with agricultural and natural resources, including cocoa and timber, which contribute to the economy of Cross River State and Nigeria. However, he lamented that poor road infrastructure continues to make it difficult for residents to transport their produce to markets and carry out their daily activities.
Besong drew attention to an approximately 140-kilometre road corridor referenced in his appeal, saying the condition of sections of the route had increased transportation difficulties for residents and businesses.
Footage accompanying the appeal showed vehicles navigating a severely muddy road, with deep ruts and waterlogged sections making movement challenging. A heavy-duty truck and other vehicles could be seen along the route as road users struggled to pass through the affected area.
The PDP candidate warned that the consequences of poor roads extend beyond transportation, affecting agricultural activities, commerce, education, healthcare and the general wellbeing of rural communities.
He explained that farmers who depend on the road to transport their harvests face additional difficulties, including higher transportation costs and the risk of produce being damaged or wasted before reaching buyers.
Besong called on relevant authorities to recognise the importance of accessible roads to communities whose livelihoods depend largely on agriculture.
In his appeal, he named members of the Cross River State and National Assemblies, the state Commissioner for Works, representatives of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and other government officials as people who should support efforts to address the problem.
Those mentioned include Hon. Philip Bette Obi, Hon. Victor Abang, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, Commissioner for Works Pius Akutah, Orok Duke, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Governor Bassey Edet Otu, Minister of Works David Umahi, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He urged the Cross River State Government, Federal Ministry of Works, NDDC, National Assembly and Federal Government to examine the affected road sections and develop practical measures for their rehabilitation.
As part of the proposed intervention, Besong called for an inspection of the road, proper documentation of the worst sections, an emergency response plan and a long-term rehabilitation programme.
He maintained that rural communities should not be expected to contribute to the state’s agricultural economy without the necessary infrastructure to support the movement of people and goods.
“Our people vote. Our people work. Our people produce. Our people contribute to the economy. They also deserve infrastructure,” he said.
Besong stressed that his appeal was beyond political party differences, urging leaders to work together to address a challenge that directly affects the lives and livelihoods of Boki residents.
“Boki deserves a road that works. Boki deserves dignity. Boki deserves development. Boki deserves to be connected,” he stated.
He called on the relevant authorities to respond to the concerns of residents and take concrete steps towards providing dependable road access for communities across the area.
The appeal has renewed attention on the importance of rural road infrastructure in connecting farming communities to markets and improving access to essential services. The status of any planned rehabilitation works on the specific sections referenced in the appeal, as well as any official response from the authorities named, was not established in the statement.
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