Unyime Idem Sends Emotional Message To President Tinubu Over Calabar – Odukpani – Itu Road
The member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, is happy with the approval of ₦55 billion for the dualisation of Odukpani-Itu-Idedem Item-Ikot Ekpene Road in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
Rep. Idem, while reacting to the funding approval, which was announced by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to State House correspondents on Monday, March 3, 2025, after the 24th Federal Executive Council meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, applauded the President for being “a listening leader who is interested in the welfare of citizens, and wants to leave a lasting legacy in the annals of history of Nigeria.”
Recall that Rep. Idem on November 25, 2024, presented a motion on the “Need for the inclusion of Odukpani-Itu road project in the 2025 Appropriation and ensure adequate budgetary provision.”
Idem had in the motion raised concerns that the current deplorable state of the road has spanned well over 20 years, since its construction in 1975, leading to loss of economic opportunities, and placing untold hardship on commuters across Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State and beyond.
He also drew the attention of the country to the fact that commuters waste many hours while plying the road, due to obstruction from broken-down trucks and ravaging gully erosion on some portions of the highway.
According to the motion, “agricultural, economic, industrial activities and human lives are lost daily, cumulatively estimated by National Bureau of Statistics and Federal Ministry of Works at ₦1.465 billion annually.”
Following Rep. Idem’s motion, the House of Representatives urged the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning to ensure the inclusion of Odukpani-Itu Federal Highway construction in the 2025 Appropriation Bill and mandated its Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriations, Finance and Works to ensure compliance and adequate budgetary provision.
The Green Chamber also directed its Committees on Public Procurement and Works to investigate the abandonment of the Odukpani-Itu Road Project, which was awarded in tranches to Julius Berger, Somatech and CCECC in 2021.
Providing further clarification on the contract, Umahi said “There are three sections that we inherited. One is CCECC. That’s the first one coming from Akwa Ibom. The second one is Julius Berger. Berger had about 27 kilometers there, and then, they went onto Cross River, and then had about 17 kilometers, and then the last one is Somatech.
“When we came on board, we needed to review all the projects. And so, whereas the two other contractors, CCECC and Somatech accepted the review, Berger insisted that the project should be reviewed up to over ₦100bn, which warranted terminating it. That project is being re-procured through selective competitive bidding. And Decon won it with ₦55bn, as against ₦100bn plus.”
Recall that in 2019, Rep. Idem presented a motion in the 9th National Assembly, drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the need for the appointment of more Commissioners into the Federal Character Commission, for its efffectual functionality.
President Muhammadu Buhari then acted within 30 days by appointing more Commissioners into the Commission, prompting commendations on the motion by the legislator and subsequent action by the president.
