Akwa Ibom Government has formally awarded and mobilised contractor to the site for the dualisation of Uyo Village Road in the state capital.
However, the government did not mention the cost of contract, and deadline for completion of the project.
Straightnews had earlier reported the deplorable state of Uyo Village Road and the hardships inflicted on road users due to a bad portion of the road coupled with refuse dumped on the road.
Related news: Midnight at Uyo Village Road
Addressing a press conference at NUJ Press Centre on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga said ‘‘However, this administration, being a responsive one, has immediately swung into action with the immediate award of contract for the construction of Uyo village Road and Ikpa Road stretching up to Udoette Street.’’
Ibanga said the construction work to dualise the deplorable Uyo Village Road is underway as the contractor, AMITEC has already been mobilized to site to start work immediately.
“The contractors have acquired a site for their equipment on the road.
“The project starts from the junction of Calabar -Itu Road, and stretches to Wellington Bassey Way. It also has two bridges”.
He noted that ‘‘the greater part of the work needed for the swift completion of the Tabernacle road has been the excavation which from professional advice from certified civil Engineers should go at least 11 meters deep. This of course is a very deep excavation work which unfortunately was slowed down by perennial rainfall and the absence in the usual August break which we have experienced in Akwa Ibom State this year. The reality remains that if the contractors had ignored the rains and continued with the excavation, there is a tendency of accidents or poor project delivery.
‘‘However, we understand the challenges faced by commuters in seeking for alternative routes as a result of this construction. Unfortunately, against Government directive, Heavy Duty trucks refused to ply the approved diverted routes for instead they joined other lighter vehicles to use these intra-city roads thereby exerting incalculably harmful pressure on these roads.
‘‘It is cogent to explain that these intra-city routes were not meant for constant use by these heavy duty trucks. Intra-city Roads like Ikpa Road and Uyo Village road have been badly affected.’’
Eno said ‘‘N151.66 Billion has been released by this administration to finance Fifty (50) of the FGPC ARISE Agenda Projects while N4.54 Billion Naira has been spent on the Eleven (11) Emergency Intervention ARISE Agenda Projects. In all, a total of N156.20 Billion has been spent on the ARISE Agenda projects.
‘‘For both the initiated and inherited projects, this administration has spent an accumulative sum of N208.16 Billion as at October 18th 2024.’’
He announced that ‘‘Governor Umo Eno would soon officially inaugurate some strategic road projects in furtherance of this administration’s avowed pledge to expand and consolidate on existing road infrastructure in the State.’’
According to him, the roads include 6.97km Ukpana – Akpabom – Ikwe road with 30m span bridge in ONNA and Mkpat Enin LGA; 2.45km internal roads at Block G, Anua Ifa Ikot Okpon Housing Estate, Uyo and the 3.6km Ikot Obio Offong-Nung Ukana (Spur I to Ikot Obio Odongo) – Abaukpo – (Spur II to Afaha Ikot Owop) – Obetok – Obongntong – Enen Nsit – Afaha Udoeyop – Afaha Offong Road in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.
Others are the 10.519km Mkpat Enin-Ikot Ubo-Ikot Ntot-Nkikara Road in Mkpat Enin/Ikot Abasi LGA; 9.76km Anciliary Roads with 60m Bridge in Nsit Ubium LGA with additional Road measuring 2.3km; 4.95km Ekparakwa – Ntak Ibesit Road in Oruk Anam LGA; 2.9km Secretariat Okuko II – Events Road with Spur in Urue-Offiong/Oruko LGA and the 22.75km Ikot Ekaide – Ikot Okoro – Ibritam Road with two bridges in Oruk Anam LGA.’’
The Commissioner reiterated the commitment of Pastor Umo Eno administration to complete the roads he inherited from previous administrations in Akwa Ibom as well as complete the ones initiated by his administration.
