By Uko Etim
ETINAN—For residents of four forgotten communities in Akwa Ibom State, crossing a river has become a mortal threat.
Since a 120-metre bridge collapsed on the Efa–Ikot Ese–Ikot Ibok–Ikot Mfon–Ndiya Road in 2011, the communities of Efa, Ikot Ibok, and Ikot Mfon in Etinan Local Government Area, along with Ndiya in Nsit Ubium LGA, have been completely cut off from the outside world.
What once stood as a vital link, a bridge built after the Civil War to connect traders to Eket, Oron, and other commercial hubs is now nothing but broken concrete and rusted iron.
Lives lost
At least three people have died attempting to cross the river since the collapse, including school children heading to Eket, Oron, and other parts of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the village head of Ikot Mfon, Mr. Ekerette Maurice Akpan said: “More than three persons have lost their lives since 2011. Apart from that, we have also lost economic activities. This road and bridge are the only access points to Ndiya, from which one can reach Eket, Oron, and other parts of Akwa Ibom.”
Pupils who once attended schools in Ndiya now trek perilous distances daily. Mr. Akpan warned that the burden has drained students’ enthusiasm and threatens the community’s future.
Market fades
At Ikot Mfon Market, the deputy village head, Obong Safety Tony, pointed to empty stalls and leaking roofs. “Traders have abandoned this place,” he said. “The market is now a shadow of what it was.”
Gregory Frederick Ukpe, another indigene, described the collapsed bridge as an economic gateway for all of Akwa Ibom. Without it, he said, commerce and industry in the area have ground to a complete halt.
Hope hangs by a thread
Still, the communities are holding on to hope. With Governor Umo Eno pushing development from rural areas to urban centres, residents expect urgent intervention after years of neglect.
“We plead with him to save us from extinction,” Ukpe appealed.
Motion without action
The bridge’s plight first reached the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in October 2019 through a motion by the then Etinan lawmaker, Aniefiok Dennis Akpan, seconded by Otobong Bob, now House Leader.
The issue resurfaced in July 2023 when the current Etinan lawmaker, Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, pushed for urgent repairs. In 2025, House Committee Chairman on Information, Jerry Anson Otu, again cited legislative motions as a tool to alert the Executive. Yet nothing has changed on the ground.
Residents remain cut off from schools, markets, and health services.
