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Idongesit Ashameri
Two widows and their children have been rendered homeless after devastating floodwaters swept through Enen Atai Itam community in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, collapsing buildings and leaving residents fearing that more homes may be lost unless urgent intervention comes from the Federal Government and contractors handling ongoing repairs on the Calabar–Itu Highway.
The victims and community leaders blamed the disaster on the ongoing emergency works being carried out by Hi-Tech Construction Company on the Ekim Itam–Head Bridge axis of the federal highway, alleging that the absence of adequate drainage channels has diverted stormwater from the elevated roadway into adjoining residential areas.
One of the worst-hit victims, Mrs. Hannah Bassey, a widow and mother of 10, recounted how she narrowly escaped death when torrential rain caused her home to collapse in the middle of the night.
“I am still afraid of what would have happened to me and my children if I had not woken up that night. The flood passed through our house after the walls collapsed. I have struggled to raise my children since my husband died, but I never imagined this would happen to us. We need help and shelter,” she lamented.
Mrs. Bassey disclosed that officials of the construction company visited the site after the incident but said no form of assistance had been extended to her family.
Another widow, Madam Uduak Nsima, also lost her home to the flooding, leaving both families displaced and dependent on the goodwill of neighbours and relatives.
Residents of the community warned that unless proper drainage infrastructure is incorporated into the ongoing road rehabilitation, more buildings may cave in as the rainy season intensifies.
Community leader, Mr. George Utip, said the road construction had improved vehicular movement but created a fresh environmental challenge for adjoining settlements.
“The road has been raised above surrounding communities without adequate drainage. The floodwater now empties directly into our homes. If nothing is done immediately, more buildings will collapse during the rainy season,” he warned.
The Calabar–Itu Highway is a critical economic corridor linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River states and serving as a major route for the movement of agricultural produce and commercial goods across the South-South and South-East regions.
Following years of deterioration that turned portions of the highway into death traps for motorists, the Federal Ministry of Works engaged Hi-Tech Construction Company to undertake emergency intervention works aimed at restoring traffic flow pending comprehensive reconstruction.
The intervention, which includes stone-base reconstruction and asphalt overlay on failed sections, has eased transportation challenges for commuters and businesses.
However, residents of Enen Atai Itam contend that the benefits of the road repairs are being overshadowed by the environmental consequences of inadequate flood-control measures.
A visit to the affected area revealed severe erosion around residential buildings, damaged household property and exposed underground electricity cables, raising fears of further disasters and possible electrocution.
Residents have consequently appealed to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Works and Hi-Tech Construction Company to provide immediate relief materials and temporary shelter for displaced families while introducing permanent engineering solutions to channel floodwaters away from residential communities.
“We are not against the road project because we know how important it is. But while opening the road to motorists, government and contractors should not close the door to the survival of the people living beside it,” one resident said.
The Calabar–Itu Highway has remained one of Nigeria’s most problematic federal roads, plagued by years of abandoned contracts, failed sections and seasonal flooding.
Despite repeated assurances by the Federal Government on the strategic importance of the corridor, residents of Enen Atai Itam say urgent intervention is needed to prevent more families from losing their homes to a disaster they believe could have been avoided.
