Going to Obio Usiere Community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State is a tough task, even though it is adventurous.
The community lacks good access road, leaving the traveller with no other option than to jump into a speed boat, with huge sum of money paid as fare.
This is what is involved when a resident of the community decides to go to the capital city, Calabar.
To ease their movement and bring development to Obio Usiere Community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State with farmers and fishermen, the residents are seeking seeking the government’s intervention in opening up access roads to their community which is surrounded by water.
They say the only major route to the village, especially at the peak of the raining season, is through the water.
Residents believe that once the roads are opened, more development will come into the community in the present face of civilisation.
The journey to the hard to reach Obio Usiere Community is about two hours from Calabar, the capital, through the extremely bad Calabar-Itu Federal Highway to Akwa Ibom State.
From Akwa Ibom State, the journey continues by a speedboat to the Community which is surrounded by Water.
This second phase of the journey, costs almost 5,000 Naira by speed boat to the village.
Many fishing activities were going on, with fishermen using smaller boats.
Regular Light Supply
The journey to the community of a little above 200,000 inhabitants all from Cross River State took about 30 minutes cruise on the cool water.
The people are predominantly farmers and fishermen and have since their existence, many decades ago, lived on the trade for survival.
It is a poor but developing community with some basic amenities such as constant portable water, school structure till the Junior Secondary School level, a health centre, though not effective and regular light supply, which could be sensed in the blast of music serenading the air.
It was a welcoming moment, Channels Television’s correspondent said.
At home of the clan head of the community, Ekpo Nya Ekpo, Channels Television was hinted of the challenges facing the community and areas they would need the government’s assistance.
Adolescent Motherhood
The community, according to him, is in dare need of more school blocks to meet the present academic needs of children of the community who are willing to study.
Further investigation about the people revealed that, 99 per cent of the girls before the age of 25 already have an average of four children and counting.
Some Members of the Community blamed the rising state of adolescent motherhood on poverty and lack of civilisation.
In the course of further interaction with most of the women, it was obvious that getting education is the last thing on their minds, but they want their children educated, Channels Television’s correspondent said
They are also seeking government’s intervention in availing the community a Skills Acquisition Centre where the women can upgrade themselves and be relevant.
For development to be enjoyed by the community, the road network needs to be in place as this is also a major challenge to them. The economic value is huge, as it would enable them move their fish and farm produce to other communities.
Youths of the community look forward to this reality which according to them, will be a dream come true.
With about three years to the end of the Governor Ben Ayade-led administration, it is believed that, his footprints will be felt massively by the community, going by the promises of the government.
