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Two people have reportedly lost their lives following construction activities along the Ataobong bypass axis of Phase IV of the East-West Road project awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works.

The incident was reportedly linked to alleged diversion of rainwater towards residential buildings during the construction work, resulting in the collapse of houses, the deaths of two people and the displacement of several families.

It was gathered that one of the buildings collapsed during heavy rainfall at night, killing Isaac Nkenyie, while Anietie Etito reportedly lost her child after another building within the same vicinity collapsed.

Rita Isaac Nkenyie, the widow of the deceased, told reporters that the death of her husband had left her struggling with severe hardship, including hunger, accommodation difficulties and the inability to pay her children’s school fees.

“Since our house collapsed in the night and killed my husband, I have no place to live with my children.

“We don’t even have food to eat. My husband was the bread winner. I cannot afford school fees for the children. I have withdrawn them from private schools to Government Primary School.

“The worst is that we don’t have food to eat and we are facing hunger daily.”

The affected families, led by Daniel Sunday Etukudoh, Monday Edoho, Anietie Henry Edoho, Miriam Ekaso and others, have instituted legal action against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, Gitto Construczioni General Nigeria Ltd and the Akwa Ibom State Government.

The families also included Iniama and Partners, an estate valuation firm engaged by the state government to handle compensation for properties affected by the project.

In suit number HEK/20/2026, the claimants are asking the court to award them N1 billion in damages and compel the estate valuer to complete compensation payments which reportedly commenced before being discontinued.

The claimants are also seeking an order directing the defendants to pay N1 billion in general damages over alleged trauma, loss of resources, loss of loved ones and loss of businesses resulting from the acquisition of their lands without compensation.

The claimants’ statement reads in part, “An order compelling the Defendants to pay N1 billion as general damages for trauma, loss of resources, loss of loved ones and loss of businesses over the years as a result of taking of their lands without compensation.

” An order compelling the Defendants to pay all claimants for their land and houses that were earlier valued and marked for compensation and also restraining the Defendants from carrying any form of selective payment of compensation among others.”

However, James Iniama, Principal/Managing Partner of Iniama and Associates, said during a telephone conversation with our reporter that compensation payments for properties affected by the East-West Road bypass had commenced before they were later halted.

“You know me very well that I do my business honestly. If I am interrogated on this matter, I will say it as it happened without fear or favour.”

Meanwhile, counsel to the plaintiffs, Eyibio Okon, said the legal action would be pursued until its conclusion in order to secure justice for the bereaved families and ensure that property owners receive the compensation due to them.

“There must be justice to all parties in the case and we are out to ensure there is justice for all.”

The matter has been adjourned until October 20, 2026, for hearing.

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