By Bassey Nkponam
OKOBO
Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on Tuesday took Oron Federal Constituency by storm, flagging off massive road projects and the ferry service that looks set to turn the Oron beach into a tourist’s haven.
The governor flagged off the dualisation of the 13.5 km Okopedi- Uya Oron Road by East- West Road (Phase 11) in Okobo Local Government Area amid joyous celebrations by the people of Okobo.
The road project which is handled by the Chinese engineering and construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is to be delivered for commissioning in 24 months.
Performing the exercise, Eno said the flagoff of the road was a proof of government’s responsiveness and in addition to other roads that are running in the state through the major interventions, payment of gratuity and prompt payment of salaries, urging the contractors to stick to the time frame and deliver on the specification laid out on the contract.
He promised to flag off 18 strategic roads across all the 10 federal constituencies with the first set in Oron while also announcing government’s plan to conduct town hall meetings from June to put the administration’s scorecard before the people and in his administration’s spirit of inclusivity, inquire from the people further needs for their respective communities.
“Today we begin the flag-off of 18 strategic roads in Akwa Ibom State across the length and breadth of Akwa Ibom State. We are beginning from Oron and we are going up to Ikot Ekpene and finally land in Uyo.
“As we go on flagging off, some we can not go, we will ask others to represent us because we believe that it is the end that justify all matters.
“We are flagging off this road to show that we are government that is responsive and this is in addition to other roads that are running in the state through the major interventions, payment of gratuity, prompt payment of salaries that we are doing.
“We would like to assure the Akwa Ibom people that we are on course. We may not be very much in terms of talking and all that but we believe in actions. We believe that God will vindicate the votes that you gave us.
“So, that is why we are here today. CCECC will take this road because they have proven their worth in the construction industry and we trust that they will not let us down.
“We are going to fund this road as and when due. We will follow the mile stone, and as they construct, we will pay. In 24 months, we want to come back by the grace of God and commission this road.
“I would like to assure you the Oro people that particularly, the Okobo and the entire Akwa Ibom State that you did not make a mistake. We will justify every opportunity that God brings our way and we assure that at the end of the day, it will be you that will make the decision and I know that you will make the right decision.
“From June, we’ll start our town hall meetings in federal constituencies. We needed to make sure that we are on ground so that when we come to your federal constituency, we will show you what we have done and you will tell us the other things we should do because we must listen to you. Every good government must be a listening government. That is why when we came during the campaign, we did our needs assessment and we are working on those needs assessment.
“So we are not just jumping aimlessly, we are strategically moving and from June by the grace of God, we will begin to go round federal constituencies to tell them the things we are doing.
“Please, I know CCECC will do the work but let me sound a note of warning, that if for any reason or the other this job is delayed and inflation catches up, I will not review the contract”, he said.
Eno also flagged off the dualization of the 13.6km Unyenge- Universal Energy Road to Ibom Deep Seaport with two bridges of 30m and 45m span and spur to Affi-Uda village in Mbo Local Government Area.
At the ceremony, Eno said the gesture was in fulfilment of the campaign promise he made to the people of Mbo, in consideration of the huge economic benefits the road will bring to the state and indeed the South South and South East regions respectively.
He made known that over N100bn is being budgeted for those projects, adding that his administration has not borrowed a dime to execute any of the projects.
“We have spent the entire day in Oro Nation today, just to prove a point that we love the Oro people and to say that across the length and breadth of this state, we will continue to serve our people and connect our people to Uyo, which is the state capital. We will continue to look for ways and means that our young people will be gainfully employed. We will continue to look for a way our people will have food at the right price on their table.
“We are here to flag off one of the most economically viable roads in Akwa Ibom State. When I came into office, the chairman of Ibom Deep Seaport gave me a brief. In that brief, she told me that investors said they will not come again to overfly the deep seaport, they want access road to the port, and so we got working.
“We have come here today, but not just to flag off but to inspect the extent of work that the contractor has done.
“It will be an honour to see trailers drive out of this park by the deep seaport. So I ask you to continue to support the contractor.
“We have a time line for this job, and I am trusting God to provide so that we can take this job to a logical conclusion.
“Today, all across Mbo, with the projects we have been doing, I have just been briefed that we have invested so far about a hundred billion in Oro nation since this government started. The roads we flagged off today, the one that we did that connects the East/West Road in Okobo is 45 billion, this is 26 and all of the other things we are doing. I tell you this so that you can go and confirm it yourself whether we are telling you the truth or not.
“So please, continue to encourage the contractor. We will do anything we can to meet your milestone.
“One of the things I will continue to say is that in this nine months, we have not borrowed any dime from any bank to execute any project that we are doing, so we will be prepared to give account on the funds that God has brought to Akwa Ibom people. We are holding them for you on trust and we will be ready to give account, anytime, any day.
“We will work with the available funds we have. When we need loan to apply directly to projects, we will go to the House of Assembly and I know Mr. Speaker and deputy speaker and members of the House will not deny us of any legitimate claim when we show them what we are doing with it.
“So please, let’s all do the work. The contractor should not come and tell us anything about exchange rate. He should do it quick. Before the exchange rate will fluctuate, we would have covered a larger ground”.
The governor later visited the General Hospital, Iquita Oron, in Oron Local Government Area, where free medical services were being provided in collaboration with Hensek Integrated Services, an indigenous road and engineering services firm.
Also visited was the Oron Beach where he promised to revive the Oron Beach Market and the morribund ferry service that was a popular means of transportation back in the 70s and the 80s.
In his remarks at the beach, Eno said the visit was a fulfilment of his campaign promise to restore activities at the beach and make it a tourists’ haven.
He said contract has been awarded the Nigerian Navy for the construction of the ferries, and handled by the Ministry of Transport.
At the various locations, political stakeholders of the federal constituency including the deputy governor, Dr Akon Eyakenyi, former secretary to the state government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, House of Representatives member for Oron Federal Constituency, Mr Martin Esin, former House of Assembly speaker, Chief Peter Linus Umoh, Ikpoto Oro, Chief Okon Osung, serving and former National and State Assembly members, serving and former State Executive Council members, Oron and Okobo local governments chairmen, thanked and celebrated the governor for keeping his campaign promises to the people.
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