
18/04/2025
GRANITE DUST: ONE OF AYADE'S LEGACIES AND ITS IMPACT
Prof. Ben Ayade, the former governor of Cross River State, while in office, was a man of impeccable passion for big things. His cravings for giant projects and lofty ideas earned him the title — Giant Alakuku. He was a man of big things. He had a big fashion appeal. He spoke big grammar — just like this writer. Everything about him had to be supersized. Even his budget titles were big — so big that the whole state couldn't run with them.
Though vertically challenged, he had tall dreams. He conceived a spaghetti flyover, but delivered an Indomie flyover. He initiated the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, which today is lost amidst the crest and trough of political waves. He also conceived the Superhighway — a supposedly signature project that led to the destruction of our ecological community. Our forest resources were depleted and plundered. The project was dead and buried before it was even born.
While the government was playing the hanky-panky game with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project, other adjoining routes—hinterland roads—were being awarded for construction. The contractors were his cronies and protégés. These roads were meant to link up with the Superhighway. In Yala Local Government Area, road grading began from Yahe, through Ukelle, Okpoma, and Ugaga, passing through Okuku, Imaje, Ekprinyi, and finally connecting Bekwarra and Obudu.
During the grading, the road along Okuku was expanded. Houses and economic trees were affected. Enumeration was done, and compensation was paid. However, many families complained of being shortchanged—a selective justice, many observed. A section from Okuku through Ugaga to Okpudu was asphalted and partitioned using nine-inch blocks.
Among these roads is the Igbekurekor to Okpoma section. Along that stretch lies an abandoned project. Poor surface dressing was done after laying granite. Before the governor left the Peregrino House, the contractor had evacuated their equipment from the site, leaving the road unfinished. Today, the project that was intended to provide succour now poses a severe environmental challenge and a health risk to humans.
Daily, as vehicles ply this route, friction between the granite and the vehicles’ tyres causes dust to billow. This dust leads to aesthetic problems and, when inhaled, can cause various health issues.
Studies by experts have shown that exposure to granite dust, which contains crystalline silica, can significantly harm human health. It primarily leads to respiratory issues such as silicosis, a condition characterized by lung scarring and difficulty breathing, caused by dust particles getting trapped in the lungs when inhaled. Prolonged exposure can also increase the risk of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
In Okpoma, cases of cough, eye defects, shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue, weakness, headache, and weight loss (in severe cases) are widespread. These are symptoms of granite dust exposure. In almost every household, someone has either experienced one of these symptoms or is currently battling the effects of the dust.
Since government is a continuum, the Prince Bassey Otu administration should take steps to address this problem. The health of the people is just as important as the completion of the road. The relevant authorities should act now to save our people from the dangers of granite dust.
Rabbit Punch (LX) with Ogar Emmanuel Oko
He writes from Ijeju Ojor