Some residents of Calabar, the Cross River State capital have expressed concern about the deplorable condition of roads in the city.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, the residents, therefore, called on the Cross River government to repair the roads.

According to most of the residents, the roads within the city are dilapidated, abandoned shortly after their construction between 1999 and 2007.

Mr. James Johnson, a taxi driver, told NAN that the road to Ikot Eyo Street by Parliament had become so bad to the extent that motorists always avoided plying the street.

“Look at the deep holes on Ikot Eyo road; they are deepening more and more and with the heavy rains the road may collapse before long.”

Another resident, Mr. Oqua Etim, said the road to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital “is bad and needed urgent intervention by government.

“It gives me a lot of concern because, apart from obstructing traffic, vehicles often get damaged after plying the route.

“Most of these street roads need rehabilitation and we need government’s attention in this direction immediately.”

Also, Mrs. Grace Ekpenyong, a business woman in Bi-quo area, expressed concern about the presence of big potholes along the roads in the area, saying the situation was very disturbing.

Ekpenyong said that the potholes had become embarrassing because the area was in the heart of Calabar.

“The potholes are just too many and they are increasing by the day and if nothing is done urgently, some parts of the road may soon become ponds.

“I just hope that the government will do something about it now that Calabar Carnival is fast approaching.”

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Kingsley Akor, a trader, also expressed concern about the deplorable condition of Lemna road, saying it needed serious attention.

But Mr. Christian Ita, a media aide to Governor Ben Ayade, attributed the deplorable road condition to the heavy downpour being experienced in the state in the last two months.

According to him, the state roads maintenance agency would repair the roads as soon as the rainy season is over.

“All these are caused by frequent rainfall in the state, especially in the last two months and this is expected.

“You do not expect government to work on the roads now that the rains are still pouring.

“But I can assure you that as soon as the rains are over, the road state maintenance agency will start repair, so, there is no cause for alarm.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Ayade

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