Simon Abang
Yesterday, I read on the Facebook page of Adie Ikor Jr that Prince Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State, has awarded the contract for the construction of the Ndok Junction/Mbube/Okubushuyu Road. I was so elated to hear the news. However, in my opinion, attention should also be given to the construction of the 6-mile Kakwagom to Ndok Junction section of the Boki East-West Road. This project, which has been long overdue, will not only serve the economic interests of the people in northern and central Cross River but will also stand as a lasting symbol of our historical interconnectivity—linking communities through trade, migration, and shared heritage before, during, and after colonialism.
The road, which passes through the Boki communities of Kakwagom, Bawop, and Oku, crosses the Nwul River and connects various Ndok communities. It was once the major gateway between northern Cross River—and by extension, northern Nigeria—and communities in Cross River and eastern Cameroon.
Historically, it served as a vital route linking Okundi, Bansan-Osokom, Nsadop, Boje, Eastern and South-Eastern Boki, and even parts of South-Eastern Cameroon. This road was a key driver of migration patterns in Boki and demonstrated our ancestors’ deep understanding of physical geography and their commitment to building a legacy of lasting group relations in the Upper Cross River region.
During colonial times, the German colonial authorities used this route to access our hinterland. Later, the British—who gained control over part of what became Nigeria in the 19th century—also used this ancestral road as a strategic route. Following the armistice of 1918 after the First World War and the eventual takeover of Southeastern Cameroon under the League of Nations Trusteeship, they utilised this same road to extend their influence into our region.
Several significant historical events are directly linked to the existence of this road. One of the most notable is the dual heritage of the Roman Catholic Mission, described by Father Elias Kekong, a professor of philosophy, as “the Church in Ogoja and of Ogoja.”
The establishment of the Catholic Mission in Ogoja in 1921, and later in Kakwagom in 1922, was no coincidence. The Irish missionaries deliberately chose these locations because of the existing rural road infrastructure. The RCM Kakwagom later became a major centre of learning for many sons and daughters of old Ogoja Province. Individuals like Dr. M. T. Mbu and Major Leonard Jarigbe were among the direct beneficiaries of the church’s educational mission—made possible by the accessible road network.
This same road also played a crucial role in education. It made it easier for our parents and elders to attend institutions such as Mary Knoll College, the defunct Teacher Training College in Ogoja, and the Boki Boys Secondary School in Okundi. My late father, a Mary Knoll alumnus, and other elders in our community often shared stories of how this road shaped their education, economy, and social lives.
Over the years, various efforts were made to reconstruct this road. In 1975, during the Murtala Mohammed administration, there were plans to expand the Calabar–Katsina-Ala Road, and this existing route was expected to be linked. Although Dr. M. T. Mbu tried to see the project through, political dynamics prevented its realisation.
In 1998–1999, the Osondu administration made significant progress by opening the Okundi–Boje intersection. Governors Duke and Imoke also contributed, building the Kakwagom and Oku bridges while rehabilitating parts of the East-West Road. Governor Ayade also made some significant efforts in the Boje–Kayang 27km intersection of the road. Yet, despite these efforts, the 6-mile Kakwagom–Ndok intersection, which connects multiple Boki and Ogoja communities, remained neglected.
Hon. Victor Abang, despite limited resources and influence, made efforts to influence the construction of this road through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). However, bureaucratic bottlenecks and red tape within the commission stalled the project.
This announcement, despite its strategic importance to our growth, needs to be expanded to include the Ndok Junction–Oku–Kakwagom Road. Doing so will not only enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth across Boki, but also benefit neighbouring areas such as Ogoja, Bekwarra, Yala, Obudu, and even communities in Northern Nigeria. More than just a road project, it is a historic undertaking—one that will revive local businesses, ease transportation, and reignite economic activity across the region.
That said, I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to the state government to rehabilitate the Okundi–Boje road, which has been severely damaged by illegal logging activities. A special task force should be set up to curb the menace of uncontrolled wood exploitation in Boki.
In addition, I urge the government to prioritise the following key roads:
Oku–Borum Njua (9km)
Biajua–Danare International Road
Orimekpang–Ayimikang (8km)
Basang–Bumaji (3km)
Wula/Okiro–Ndemechang
Construction of Katchuan–Kakwagom–Irruan (5km)
Completion of the Boje–Kayang intersection of the Boki East-West Road
Batriko/Beebo/Kakwe
I also recommend strong collaboration between the state and the Federal Government for the rehabilitation of the Ikom–Obudu Road. A critical look at these recommendations—excluding the Ikom–Obudu stretch—reveals that the total length is not even up to 50km. This is very achievable with the political will and the leadership capacity Governor Otu has already demonstrated.
In Niger State, Governor Bago recently completed a road project exceeding 100km. So yes—it’s possible here in Cross River too. Especially in Boki, a region that delivered over 17,000 votes for Prince Bassey Otu in the last election.
Simon Abang is the Personal Assistant to Hon. Victor Abang, representing Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. He writes from Abuja, Nigeria.