Akwa Ibom Government would soon commence construction of roads worth multi-million naira in some parts of the state following the approaching dry season.
Briefing correspondents after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Udom Emmanuel at Government House, Uyo, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Ini Ememobong said the approval has been given for the construction of 2.1Km Ukpong Street, 2.1Km Effiong Esang Street with 800m discharge drain in Oron Local Government Area.
According to him, contract has been awarded for the construction of a 21.5Km Ikot Ayan Ediene-Ikot Ntia-Urua Naira-Ikot Nseyen-Nkwot-Nung Ukim Road with 45m span bridge in Ikono Local Government Area.
The state executive council also approved the construction of a 12.5Km Idiaba-Ibakang-Adiang-Ndukpo Ise Road in Nsit Atai and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas,” he said.
To curb the menace of illegal road side trading and loading of vehicles, the Information Commissioner said the state council has directed the enforcement of order to remove menace constituting nuisance to road users during rush hours.
Upon this, the Commissioner said the government has given a two-week moratorium for necessary sensitization after the initial sounding of the order and has now directed immediate commencement of enforcement by the relevant government agencies.
Ememobong, however, stressed that the government has no duty issuing any other official quit notice or relocating the already illegal users of those spaces.
“The Council charged the Commissioner for Transport and the Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals to ensure free flow of traffic, by way of ensuring that illegal markets on major roads are removed and illegal bus stops are removed because during rush hour we’ve discovered that a lot of major roads in Uyo have become impassable and that situation is totally unacceptable.
“The issue of relocation has been that which a lot of people ask, but people must know that for relocation to occur, you must have been a legal tenant. A person who is an illegal tenant does not expect a quit notice,” he added.
Approval was also given for the establishment of Ibom Youth Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Training Centre based on the proposal by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment.
“The Centre, when operational, will become a one-stop high-class training centre for entrepreneurship and leadership issues for the youths of Akwa Ibom State and anyone who may be interested,” Ememobong said.
On the 2021 Christmas village, the council is said to have approved a proposal presented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Orman Esin, with a directive that this year’s edition should surpass those of previous years in both standards and organization.
