By Emmanuel Uffot
For the people of the riverine Mbo Local Government Area and the neighbouring Esit Eket, Monday January 16, 2023 will remain indelible in their memory. It was a day the agelong 1.15km Afi- Uko Ntighe bridge along the Etebi – Enwang Road was commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
While inaugurating the bridge, former President Jonathan applauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for consistently delivering people oriented projects that will promote growth of the state. Extolling the sterling achievements of the governor, He said it takes one with commitment towards improving the lives of the people to embark on a project of such magnitude Like the bridge which is the longest in both Akwa Ibom and South- South and the fourth longest in Nigeria.” A bridge is very useful to riverine areas where I also come from. This is visionary leadership that gives substantial evidence of well structural growth promoting leadership. Your strategic development plans have continued to deliver great dividends to the development of this great state.You have delivered several projects and have built many bridges and this is a flagship project. It takes someone with total commitment towards improving lives of people to embark on this. Your projects have direct have direct direct impacts on the lives of people in remarkable ways”.
Jonathan said the developmental strides of Governor Emmanuel has justified the recent award bestowed on him as the Governor with the best economic blueprint. The former president who was accompanied by his wife Patience acknowledged the fact that it was the third time he was visiting the state to commission projects, stressing that the governor through his many live touching projects in the state has become like a poster boy of Nigeria’s democratic dispensation and enjoined the incoming Governor to emulate the legacies that will be left behind by Governor Emmanuel and follow his footprints.
On his part, Governor Emmanuel said the successful completion of the bridge was in fulfillment of his electioneering promise to open up the riverine communities in the state. He thank God for giving him the grace and enablement to impact on the lives of people and communities across the 31 local government areas.
The governor equally extended his appreciation to members of the community for their support and cooperation throughout the duration of the project. He reiterated his focus not to be distracted by blackmail from his commitment to continue to drive the the industrial growth of the state.
While taking the people into the components of the bridge, Professor Eno Ibanga, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service explained that the bridge sits on 212 piles with minimum depth of 30 metres, segmented into 52 spans of 22.5 metres each and the spans sit on 40 precast beams having long lifespan.
Explaining further on the project, the Managing Director of AMITEC Construction Company,that handled the project Aiman Saima said the company was awarded the contract in 2018 but the work was stalled by the Covid_19 pandemic lockdown. The Syrian national commended the Governor for prompt provision of the needed funds to execute the project and the community for ensuring hitch free work. Good will messages came from the Secretary to the State Government Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem and his brother Catholic Archbishop of Calabar Dr Joseph Ekuwem, both from Mbo, traditional rulers and religious leaders from the area as well as the President of Nigeria Union of Journalist Chris Isiguzo and his counterpart from Nigeria Society of Engineers and Nigeria Institute of Public Relations Engineer Tasiu Gidari- Wudil and Muktar Sirajo respectfully all expressed joy at the project which they stressed will boost economic activities not only between the two oil communities but between the community and neighbouring countries like Gabon, Cameroun and Equatorial Guinea. Findings show that the project span 74 years as it was said to be initially awarded to a British Construction Company headed by Engineer Fidelis Cobbs in 1949.
Prior to its commissioning the Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel on Research and Documentation Essien Ndueso had taken media men on a facility tour on Friday January 13, 2023.
It could be recalled that work on the bridge was initiated by former governor Senator Godswill Akpabio in 2008, only to be abandoned. On take over, Governor Emmanuel re- awarded contract for the road in 2018 which he inherited at 35 percent completion stage.
The inaugurated bridge is said to be among the 40 bridges the governor has been credited to have constructed and over 1,700 kilometres of roads across the 31 local government areas of the state.
Some of the major roads already completed and inaugurated by this administration include the 10 Lane Ring Road 3, 29 kilometres dualised Etinan- Ndon Eyo Road with two cable bridges, 14km Ikot Ikara- Ikot Akpan Essien- Ikot Otor Ibesit in Oruk Anam, 13. 5km Ikot Ebiere- Ikot Edor – Ikot Iko Ibon- Okon Road in Onna/ Mkpat Enin, 12.742km Akwa Iman – Asong- Ikot Edim- Ikot Emem in Onna and Mkpat Enin, 10.519km Mkpat Enin – Ikot Ubo- Ikot Nkikara Road and Etebi – Enwang Road which has the newly inaugurated bridge.
Similarly, some major ongoing roads still under construction and estimated at 70 percent completion stage include,Uyo / Ekom Iman- Etinan Road and Etinan – Eket Road. Also under construction is the long abandoned ring road linking Aka – Nnung Udoe Road with Abak Road.
