Residents of Kakwu and Basang communities of Basang Ward in Obanliku Local Government Area, Cross River State, where former Senate President, Dr Joe Wayas hailed from, have cried out over the collapse of the only access bridge linking the towns to other communities.
The ancient bridge caved in over five years ago but the recent rains have finally washed it away.
The residents, who are mostly farmers, have raised the alarm, saying that their rich agricultural yields have continued to rot away every year due to lack of access roads.
A farmer and community leader, Cyril Ernest, lamented that the collapse of the bridge has affected his source of livelihood.
“We can no longer move our farm crops to the markets, and buyers can not also come into our communities. We cannot access medical assistance neither obtain other supports”, he lamented.
In a statement, president of the Basang Nation and leader of the 8th Executive Assembly of Basang Development Union, Anyawho Sylvanus, said the community made several efforts to maintain the bridge to no avail.
He called on government to intervene by reconstructing the collapsed bridge which, he said, links eight communities in Obanliku LGA as well as Kakwu, Bayapri and Beebo communities in Eastern Boki in Boki LGA.
According to him, the communities cut off by this broken bridge are richly endowed with good food crops and abundant natural resources that can boost food sufficiency and economic development within Obanliku LGA and the state.
“Due to inaccessible road, food crops such as yams, cassava, bananas, cocoa, plantain and palm products rot and perish year in and out.
“The situation is further exacerbated with the collapse of this bridge.
“We therefore call on the state House of Assembly member, Hon Pius Ashakia who incidentally come from this area to, as a matter of urgency, call for immediate government intervention by moving a motion on public urgent important in the house of Assembly.”
They also called on the state government to construct the Basang West Road linking eight communities of Kabun, Herie, Bayalele, Bayatuo, Irriagwu, kakwu, Bayapri and neighbouring Beebo communities in Boki LGA.
