Enohia Itim Town Union Seeks Urgent Presidential intervention after three years of deterioration, cites hardship for commuters, farmers, students and businesses. By Raymond Enoch

The Enohia Itim Town Union (EITU) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the Federal Government’s infrastructure renewal drive to a critical federal road linking communities in Ebonyi and Cross River states, warning that its deteriorating condition is increasingly undermining economic activities, education and regional connectivity.

In an open letter dated November 6, 2026, the Union called on the President to direct the Federal Ministry of Works and relevant government agencies to urgently assess and commence comprehensive rehabilitation of the Late Ezeogo Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam Federal Road, which connects Mgbom through Enohia Itim and Unwana in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State to Erei in Cross River State.

The appeal comes against the backdrop of more than three years of deterioration along sections of the strategic transportation corridor, leaving motorists and other road users struggling with difficult journeys, vehicle breakdowns, traffic delays and growing safety concerns.

The Union said the situation became particularly severe during the 2026 rainy season, between July and October, when the condition of the road compounded the difficulties faced by commuters, traders, farmers, students and residents of surrounding communities.

Beyond the daily inconvenience, the deteriorating road has continued to place pressure on local businesses, restrict the movement of agricultural produce and disrupt access to essential services, raising concerns about the economic consequences of prolonged infrastructure challenges.

Of particular significance is the road’s importance to Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, one of the major tertiary institutions in the area.

Students, lecturers, administrative personnel, parents and visitors depend on the route for regular access to the institution, making its rehabilitation an important consideration for educational development and the broader welfare of the academic community.

The Union argued that a road serving such an important federal institution and several interconnected communities deserves urgent attention, particularly at a time when the Federal Government has placed infrastructure development and improved national connectivity among its development priorities.

It stressed that the road’s relevance extends beyond Enohia Itim, Mgbom and Unwana, serving as an important link to Erei and neighbouring communities in Cross River State.

Consequently, EITU maintained that restoring the road would deliver benefits beyond a single community, strengthening interstate movement, facilitating commerce and improving access to opportunities across the two states.

While acknowledging the Federal Government’s infrastructure renewal agenda under President Tinubu, the Union expressed hope that the administration would translate its commitment to improving critical national infrastructure into tangible relief for communities along the corridor.

It appealed to the President to give the road special consideration by directing the Federal Ministry of Works to undertake an immediate technical assessment, establish the extent of deterioration and initiate a comprehensive rehabilitation programme.

The Union also called attention to the historical significance of the road’s name, describing its reconstruction as an opportunity to honour the legacy of the late Ezeogo Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam, a distinguished Nigerian statesman who served as the first Governor of the former Eastern Region.

It noted that restoring a federal road bearing the name of such an important national figure would be a meaningful way of preserving his legacy while addressing the contemporary development needs of the communities he symbolically represents.

The appeal was jointly signed by the President General of Enohia Itim Town Union, Engr. Sixtus Uroh Nnachi, and the Secretary General, Mr. Gabriel O. Chukwu.

The signatories expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s commitment to improving critical infrastructure and enhancing the welfare of Nigerians, urging the Federal Government not to allow the continued deterioration of the road to become a permanent burden on residents and businesses.

They emphasised that timely intervention would not only ease transportation difficulties but also restore commercial confidence, improve agricultural distribution and enhance the quality of life of people living along the route.

For the Tinubu administration, the appeal presents an opportunity to demonstrate how its infrastructure development priorities can address pressing needs at the community level, particularly where federal roads serve educational institutions, agricultural communities and interstate economic activities.

Ultimately, the condition of a road is measured not simply by its designation as a federal infrastructure asset, but by its ability to facilitate movement, protect lives, connect communities and support economic prosperity.

For residents of Enohia Itim, Unwana, Mgbom, Erei and neighbouring communities, the expectation is that the Federal Government will give the appeal the necessary attention and move swiftly towards a lasting solution.

Their message to Abuja is clear: the road needs urgent attention, and its rehabilitation could become a significant demonstration of the practical impact of the Federal Government’s infrastructure renewal agenda on ordinary Nigerians.