Some farmers in Yahe, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River, have decried the deplorable state of the 47-kilometre Yahe-Ebo-Anokom-Wanikade-Wanihem road.
The farmers spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Thursday.
They said that the state of the road had made it difficult to evacuate their farm produce to markets.
They said the lose produce valued at millions of naira to the deplorable, adding that the man-hour lost on the road daily by commuters was unquantifiable.
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Mr Steve Okpako, one of the farmers told NAN that the Trunk A road was being constructed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) before it was abandoned.
He, however, said that the Cross River government decided to take over the project because of the delay in execution by the interventionist agency.
“Our people are really suffering and we can no longer keep quiet. We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the NDDC and Gov. Ben Ayade to do something urgently,” he said.
Similarly, another farmer, Mr Daniel Una, said that most of his agro produce spoil in the farm because taking them to the market was not only financially viable.
“Before now, it costs about N500 to move a bag of Garri from our place to market in less than 2 hours but today it cost N1,500 and journey of two days for the same bag of garri,” he stated.
Mr Ken Udu, a motorist, said the road was a no-go-area during the rainy season.
He said that a journey of between two and three hours during the dry season took almost two days during the rainy season.
“No vehicle, apart from Mercedes Benz 911 and heavy duty trucks can ply the road. It takes at least two days to move goods to the market from there.
“Only motorcycles can convey passengers easily. Even at that, when they get to some portions of the road they have to disembark to allow the bike to pass the bad spots to continue the journey.
“Most of the villagers, who are predominantly farmers, find it almost impossible to move their produce. At the end of the day, it’s either the perishable items get bad or they sell them at giveaway prices.
“ I must confess that the government must take full responsibility and do something urgently,” he said.
Meanwhile the state government has declared its intention to complete all ongoing projects across the state before May 2023.
“The government is working to complete every project it has embarked on but the rains have slowed down the pace of work.
“However, they will be completed, I can assure you,” he said. NAN
