By Solomon OKPO
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the governments of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to urgently intervene in the deplorable condition of the Calabar–Itu Highway.
The petroleum stakeholders warned that failure by the two state governments to take immediate action to address the worsening state of the road would compel them to embark on an industrial action that could disrupt the distribution of petroleum products in the region.
The Calabar–Itu Highway, which serves as a critical economic corridor linking Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, has for years remained in a deteriorating condition, making transportation difficult for motorists, particularly tanker drivers conveying petroleum products.
According to the associations, the poor state of the highway has significantly increased operational risks and costs for petroleum marketers while also posing serious safety threats to tanker drivers and other road users.
They stressed that the continued neglect of the road has resulted in frequent breakdowns of heavy-duty trucks, delays in the supply of fuel to filling stations, and rising transportation expenses, which ultimately affect consumers.
IPMAN and NUPENG therefore called on the Cross River State Government and the Akwa Ibom State Government to urgently collaborate with the Federal Government and relevant agencies to carry out comprehensive rehabilitation of the highway.
The groups maintained that the ultimatum became necessary to draw the attention of authorities to the economic and safety implications of the road’s condition, emphasizing that the Calabar–Itu Highway remains a strategic route for commerce and the movement of petroleum products within the South-South region.
They warned that if no visible steps are taken within the 21-day window, petroleum marketers and tanker drivers may be forced to suspend operations along the route as a measure to safeguard their members and compel authorities to act.
