The site of a proposed international motor park facility at the Nigeria-Cameroon border in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State has been abandoned and is now completely overgrown with weeds, just five months after construction began.

The project, which commenced in January 2025 with land clearing and machinery deployment, was positioned along the Ikom-Mfum border road near Cameroon. The initiative was initially celebrated by traders, motorists, and international travelers who anticipated its positive impact on cross-border commerce.

A recent visit to the location revealed that the once-cleared construction site has been reclaimed by bush and now harbors reptiles, raising concerns among local stakeholders and frequent border users.

Mr. Anthony Attah, a farmer on Effraya Road in Etomi, expressed disappointment over the project's apparent abandonment. "I had considered the project a laudable one and had commended the Council chairman, Henry Anom, for the initiative, considering the economic importance of such a park to the LGA, taking advantage of the Cameroon borders," he stated. "Barely four months after the excavation of the land, the place has become a bush again."

Everlasting Eriom, a businessman and cocoa farmer, lamented the discontinuation of the project, which he believed would have facilitated his business operations and boosted cocoa sales. He emphasized that the motor park could have been a signature achievement for the current administration while significantly increasing the council's internal revenue.

Legal Complications Halt Construction

Responding to public concerns, John Ogar, Supervisor for Finance in Etung LGA, revealed that the project has been stalled due to legal complications. According to Ogar, the administration was served with a court injunction shortly after excavation work began.

"The Executive Chairman of Etung LGA, Henry Anom, conceived the initiative of giving Etung a unique Motor Park Facility as a border local government. Unfortunately, barely days after excavating the site to kickstart actual development, we were slammed with a court injunction," Ogar explained.

He further clarified that the legal dispute arose because "the previous administration had given out the parcel of land without proper documentation to guide the current dispensation." Ogar assured that the administration is committed to obeying the law while exploring measures to resolve the situation.

The international motor park was envisioned to capitalize on the substantial trade and travel volumes between Cross River State and Cameroon, potentially transforming the economic landscape of the border community while providing much-needed infrastructure for cross-border activities.