I Will Complete All Ongoing Projects Before 2023 – Gov Emmanuel
In line with his second term cognomen, “Completion Agenda, the Akwa Ibom governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has restated his determination to completing all ongoing roads and other life touching projects he started, within the lifespan of his administration.
To match his words with action, the state chief executive hinted that his government has made funds available to the contractors, although, according to him, the money may be in piecemeal due to the obvious challenges presented by the horrendous respiratory disease, Coronavirus, as well as some drastic adjustments in the state budget. Emmanuel made this known on Sunday during a special inspection of ongoing road construction and other projects in the state.
Represented by his chief of staff, who also supervises the Ministry of Works, Mr Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, the governor informed that the inspection became imperative tooffer him the opportunity to see things for himself since the ease of total lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
His words: “Let me use this instance to make some clarifications since I am still the supervising commissioner for works. Today, we went through local government by local government to see the jobs my boss, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has given out and see the level of their completion.
“However, apart from a little challenge that may be traced to delay in valuation for compensation to owners of structures in certain areas, with the assurances of the contractors, some parts or entire stretch of the roads I have inspected can be asphalted perhaps in the next one or two months, especially for the fact that drainage and earthwork had been done, he said.
Inyang-Eyen who was accompanied during the inspection by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr John Itiat, and directors in the ministry, however, commended contractors, whom he observed were serious with their work but cautioned that the excuses associated with the rainy season were not altogether tenable because there are still certain kinds of work that can be done irrespective of weather conditions.
Appreciating the level of cooperation shown the contractors by indigenes of the areas and assuring them of government’s continued transparency in matters of compensation as soon as the money was available, he assured that the governor has made funds available for the contractors, as according to him, “Government’s earnest intention is to see the work moving no matter the challenges.
The youth leader of Ikot Akpan Essien, Mr Akanimo Etukudoh, who mobilized a sizeable number of youths to accord the visitors a rousing welcome, while expressing happiness that their prayers for good roads have been answered through Gov Udom Emmanuel, assured of their continuous support to the contractor to complete the job within the time frame.
Among the roads visited included the 18.95km Ikot Ibritam-Inen Ekeffe-Ikot Akpan Afaha Road as well as the 23.25km Ikot Ekaide-Ikot Okoro-Ikot Ibritam Road, both in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
The inspection team also visited other life touching projects embarked upon by the Udom Emmanuel administration with the assurance of inaugurating them soon for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people.
