By Bassey Nkponam
IBIONO IBOM
In demonstration of his administration’s commitment to the infrastructural development pillar of the ARISE Agenda, the Akwa Ibom governor has flagged off the construction of 32.4km roads in Ibiono Ibom and Ikono Local Government Areas of the State.
The road project is the 10.9km Nsan – Use Ikot Amama – Ibiaku Ikot Esifa – Iton Mmong – Nkwot Edem Edet Road and spur with two bridges of 40m and 20m spans each, and the 2.0km discharge drain spanning through the two local government areas, handled by Setraco Limited, as well as the 21.5km road linking Ikot Anyan Ediene – Ikot Ntia – Urua Naira – Ikot Nseyen – Nkwot – Nung Ukim Road project with 45m span bridge in Ikono Local Government Area, handled by Hensek Integrated Services.
At the flag off ceremony, Thursday, in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Pastor Umo Eno, described road infrastructure as a typical catalyst for development, noting that government is determined to ensure that it holistically raises the bar of development in all sectors of the economy, be it tourism or transportation.
Eno expressed satisfaction that he was able to prove that he does not need to come from a particular local government area before serving the people as governor, as the desire of the electorates was to have a God ordained governor who will be able to take development across the entire State.
He thanked the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for his foresight during his tenure as governor, for extending infrastructural development to the two local government areas which until then were completely cut off from other communities.
Eno said the flag off was to deploy his administration’s usual finishers’ anointing in completing projects of value and economic significance that were initiated by previous administrations in the State, to complete what Akpabio started and to extend development to the communities with the flag-off of the road project which spans through two local government areas.
“Finally we are here this afternoon to deploy our usual finishers anointing, once again, in completing projects of value and economic significance that were started by previous administrations.
“Let me thank the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our son in whom we are well pleased, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio (GCON), for his foresight while he was a governor, for extending infrastructural development to this part of our State, which until then was completely cut off from other communities.
“Today, we are here to complete what he started and to extend development to these communities with the flag-off of this road project”, the governor said and thanked the people of Ibiono Ibom, recalling the period of his campaign in the area when he pledged to serve them, and provide them with all the necessities of life in terms of infrastructure if voted into power as governor.
The governor urged the contractor handling the project, Setraco Limited, to ensure a speedy completion, as his choice to handle the project was borne out of government determination to seamlessly connect all part of the State with an economically viable road network having trusted in the contractor’s capacity to manouver the terrain and come out with the road.
Speaking separately at the event, the member representing Itu and Ibiono Ibom in the House of Representatives, Obong Ime Bassey Okon, Esq; chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council, Mr Asuakak Umoh; paramount ruler of Ibiono Ibom, HRM, Okuku Ime Inyang, member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mr Moses Essien, lauded Eno for taking development to all nooks and crannies of the State and pledged the people’s support for his government beyond 2027.
At Ikono where he also flagged off the construction of 21.5km Ikot Anyan Ediene – Ikot Ntia – Urua Naira – Ikot Nseyen – Nkwot – Nung Ukim Road project with 45m span bridge handled by Hensek Integrated Services, Governor Eno noted that the construction of the road which had earlier commenced was later halted due to some delays caused by the people of the area, urging them to cooperate with their choice contractor, Hensek, for the actualisation of the road project, while stressing his administration’s desire to provide necessary infrastructure to boost the economy and develop agribusinesses in the State.
He said the intention of government was to ensure that the state is connected seamlessly in road infrastructure to enable easy access to local government areas, adding that on completion, farmers would transport their farm produce seamlessly to the market.
Eno thanked youths of the area for cooperating with the contractors to ensure prompt delivery of projects, urging them to engage in meaningful endeavours and to continuously protect government facilities in their domain.
The governor, who described his administration as people-centric, said his investment in road infrastructure is geared towards enhancing the well-being of the people and the tourist potentials of the State, and informed the people that he would extend the ongoing street lighting project in Uyo to local communities and sued for peace and cooperation with all levels of government for development to thrive.
The chief executive officer of Hensek Integrated Services, Mr Uwem Okoko, an engineer, assured the governor of timely delivery of the project to the people of Ikono, even as he appreciated him for his development strides across the State.
In their separate goodwill messages, the member representing Ikono State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mr Asuquo Udo; commissioner for trade and investment, Dr. Ubong Inyang; chairman of Ikono Local Government Council, Mr. Otobong Essien, all lauded Governor Eno for leading a people-centric administration which takes development to the people using the ARISE Agenda blueprint, pledging the peoples’ support to his administration.
The commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga, presented the technical details of the projects so flagged off.
Discussion about this post