Commissions 9.76KM Ikot Eyo -East West Road
By Emmanuel Uffot
There was excitement across Nsit Ubium Local Government Area in particular as The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, commissioned the 9.76Km Ikot Eyo-Edem Idim Okpot-Mbiekene-Nung Obong-Ikot Ntung-East West Road last Wednesday.
For the people, it was a fulfillment that their son has come to bring dividends of democracy to them while for the Governor, it was a way of driving his pre- election promise of ensuring equitable distribution of projects across the State and due attention to the needs of Nsit Ubium people in the course of his administration.
Senator Effiong Bob flanked by others giving his goodwill message
Performing the inauguration of the road, which Criss -Cross three neighbouring Local Government Areas of Eket, Esit Eket and Ibesikpo- Asutan, the Governor commended the patience and understanding of Nsit Ubium people with the administration’s spread of development projects across the State, assuring them that they will not regret their support as their interest will receive due attention.
Governor Eno commended the project contractor, Bulletine Construction Company Nigeria Ltd, for its diligence and adherence to timelines and going the extra mile to renovate the Ikot Eyo Community School and building a 3-bedroom bungalow for the principal as part of its corporate social responsibility.
He however, demanded appropriate reclamation of a potential gully erosion site that may threaten the durability of the new road.
The Governor assured the people that roads traversing the local government area have been captured in the 2025 budget for construction, and described his emergence as Governor as the best Akwa Ibom project for Nsit Ubium.
“In next year’s budget, we have made provision for the dualization of Nung-Udoe, Afaha Nsit road, and outfalls in Ibesikpo and Nsit Ubium. That road will have dual carriage way.
“We have also made provision intentionally for the development of Afaha Offiong, Itreto in Nsit Ubium upto Nsit Ibom. We need to open up that axis too so that we can improve commerce and traffic. We will keep doing what we can to touch the lives of our people at the grassroots as we develop our State”.
Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga, described the Governor’s intervention on the road as salvation to several Nsit Ubium communities, assuring that the 9.76 Km road, completed with a 60m span bridge and spurs at Luke Avenue, Ikot Mbat and Ndon Adiana has been built according to specification.
A plethora of Nsit Ubium stakeholders including the Political Leader of Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Bob, former Speaker of Akwa State Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, Woman Leader, Dr. (Mrs.) Dora Bassey, Paramount Ruler, Oku Ibom Ibibio. Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, and the local government Chairman, Hon. Alfred Charles all send in their goodwill messages, affirming the bad state of the road before the intervention.
Stressing that it was a deathtrap to children during the rainy season.
They recalled that the sorry state of the road made farming, and trade difficult, and thanked the Governor for ensuring that the project was completed.
Barrister Onofiok particular thanked the Governor by granting his request to reconstruct a major road across his village ( Ikot Etobo) and giving him the liberty to chose the contractor to handle the road.
The road in question is, Afaha Offiong – Ikot Edibon – Itreto ( Ikot Etobo).
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Bulletine Construction Company, the contractor Chief Faysal Harb, expressed appreciation to the State Government for having confidence in his company and to the community for cooperating with his workers, assured that his company will leave up to expectation on any project given him to handle.
Apart from the model farm in Ikot Edibon/ Afia Nsit whose construction is ongoing, the road commissioning is the first major one in Nsit Ubium since the Governor assumed office last year.
The Scroll gathered that some pockets of internal roads and some major ones transversing villages in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, are currently ongoing apart from the trunk roads mentioned by the Governor whose work is captured in next year budget
The commissioning of the Ikot Eyo road with a newly constructed bridge is one among the many road projects initiated by the Governor since his assumption of office which is said to total over 200 kilometres.
The roll call includes Ndiya Street off Aka Road which was the first road construction initiated by his administration.
Others include,
1.1 km project on Spring Road and gully erosion
9.76 km from Ikot Eyo – Edem Idim Okpot – Mbiekene, continuing to Nung Obong and finally reaching Ikot Ntung on the East West Road.
The Mkpat Enin–Ikot Ubo–Ikot Ntot–Nkikara Road spans 10.519 km and lies within the Mkpat Enin and Ikot Abasi Local Government Areas.
60-meter span Nto Ide-Ikot Amba bridge
The 21.5 km Oron Road extending from the Ring Road III Roundabout to the gate of Victor Attah International Airport, which has been renamed Udom Emmanuel Boulevard.
12.5 km from Ikot Ekaide to Ikot Okoro in Oruk Anam
The 2.9 km Secretariat Road connecting the communities of Urue Offong and Ibotong Eweme in the Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area.
The 4.5 km Ekparakwa-Obesity Road located in Oruk Anam.
The road from Ikot Ekaide to Ikot Okoro and Ikot Ibritam spanning 22.5 km which includes two bridges.
(10)1.8 km Paul Ekpo Crescent
1.0 km on Emmanuel Ekon Avenue
0.8 kilometers on Obot Emem Street all in Uyo metropolis
A 1.3 km underground flood control tunnel, measuring 8 meters deep and 2x2x0.3 meters in dimensions, along with the renovated section of Atiku Abubakar Avenue featuring street lighting, and the upgraded Afaha Ube Street.
(14)2.5 km Ifa Ikot Okpon-Anua GRA Phase 2 and (15)5.1 km Ikot Akpa Edung, Ikot Obio Ata, Edem Ibiok, Ekpene Ukim Roads in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A