South Eastern Nigeria highway link

A new highway link is planned for South Eastern Nigeria. The US$154.4 million project will connect Odukpani Itu in Cross River State with Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibome State. Approval for the project has been given by Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC). The link will provide a major new highway connection for Nigeria’s South Eastern region, improving transport between Calabar through to the rest of the country. This will provide a major economic boost to the Efik/Ibibio/Anang-speaking language group of Nigeria, the country’s fourth largest (after Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo). The construction project will not provide any major technical challenges as the area’s geology is not complex, though there will be some smaller river crossings to be constructed. Given the heavy rainfall in the rainy season, there will be a need for effective drainage and there will be environmental aspects to be considered also.