…REASSURES ON COMPLETION OF INHERITED PROJECTS
The 10.4km Idoro (Uyo) – Ukpom (Abak) Road Project is a fulfilment of the campaign promises made by Pastor Umo Eno, to complete all projects inherited from the immediate past administration of Mr Udom Emmanuel in the State.
It further enforces the Governor’s resolve to ensure that quality infrastructures are put in place to open up rural communities and boost economic and agricultural activities in the State.
Governor Eno who spoke at the inauguration of the project amidst pomp and celebration by indigenes and leaders from the two benefiting local government areas, said though the project was very challenging, he was happy that it had been successfully completed.
“I promised during our campaigns that we will do all we can to complete all ongoing projects by the last administration, this project was initiated by the administration of my political father Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and we had promised we will complete this project.
”Today, we are here in fulfillment of that promise and with the finisher’s anointing and our faith in God and the belief that governance is a continuum, we have deployed all our resources to complete this road.
“Let me thank Amitec Construction for taking on the challenge. When you look at the videos of this road before now, you will know that it was really challenging.
“Let me thank the Commissioner for Works for rising up to the occasion. Thank you so much for tolerating all of those bombardments but I’m sure you are happy today that this road is done.”
“We want to promise our people that we will keep connecting our rural communities to the urban centers just like we’ll keep connecting the center of Akwa Ibom to the center in Abuja. We want to thank you for your understanding.”
While commending President Bola Tinubu on his economic reforms in the State, Governor Eno said, “this will not have been possible without the support of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Ahmed Tinubu, who has released funding to the state so that we can go on to complete our projects and that’s why it’s important as a state we rise up with one voice to support the President to come back for a second term.”
The Governor maintained that having completed the bit of politics of movement, his administration will continue to ensure that Akwa Ibom stands to benefit from the movement.
“We will in the next few weeks flag off youth-friendly centers in all of our local governments, and working with the chairman of ALGON, each local government chairman will give us a space within their local government so that we can build youth-friendly centers for our young people.
“Only yesterday, I received in audience the honorable Minister for Youth Development and he has told me we are going to work together to ensure that those youth-friendly centers have the right equipment, the right funding, the right support, that we can galvanize all our youths in each local government areas.
While appreciating AMITEC for a job well executed, the Governor assured that his government will not owe contractors because, “before we issue a contract or award a contract we have set aside funding for that contract. So it is left for contractors to finish their contract and then take their money.
He warned people to be wary of speculations that he is not spending money, maintaining that those who are working creatively, are targeted by his government.
“When IPCs are raised now, you will see that those fundings are being released. I can guarantee all our contractors, we will not owe you, we are paying. We’ll meet your commitments but we’ll not do variation. We have ended variation. When we give you contract, make sure you look at your contract you will not use style to take job and come back to us for variation”, the Governor added.
In a show of love and magnanimity , the Governor directed the Head of Service to immediately employ a physically challenged lawyer recently called to the Nigerian Bar.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, said: “This road was once impassable. It cuts off access to three major healthcare centers, making it difficult for pregnant women and patients to reach help. Today, Your Excellency, you have restored hope.”
The Commissioner for Works and Fire Services, Prof Eno Ibanga who commended the Governor on the completion of the Project, said the Governor inherited the project from the previous administration, and paid 80percent of the fee for its completion.
Speaking, stakeholders from the two local government areas, appreciated the Governor for the project and pledged their resolve to support the administration to succeed.
Prince Clement Jimbo, the Lawmaker from Abak Federal Constituency, said part of the communities that the road traverses, are in his ward, and further thanked the Governor for uniting the State politically.
The Managing Director of AMITEC, Engr. Aiman Saimua, who appreciated the government for the confidence in his company’s ability said he felt honoured by the encouragement.
He pledged to install six boreholes along the road, three on the Uyo Constituency and three to the Abak axis, as will be directed by the Honourable Speaker and the Uyo lawmaker.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Uyo local government, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, accompanied by his Abak counterpart recounted how he had come with the former Chairman of Abak, Mr Ekerete Inyang to calm the people of the affected communities, following the deplorable condition of the road, adding that the Governor has answered their prayers with its completion.
The House of Assembly member for Uyo, Hon Uwemedimoh Asuquo, flanked by other stakeholders from Uyo, also relayed the appreciation of his people.
See Before Pictures of the road
Video of the Commissioning