Aniefiok Christopher
Contract for the construction of a 2.2km Tabernacle Road and its environs traversing Uyo and Itu Local Government Areas with 0.97KM underground outfall drain is on the line for termination in by Akwa Ibom State Government.
Speaking during a media briefing at Government House, Uyo marking the third anniversary of his administration on Saturday, 30 May, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno vowed to terminate the road contract handled by NSIK Engineering Company Limited by July if the company fails to deliver the job on schedule.
Eno frowned at the slow pace of work done by the engineering firm three years after the contract was awarded.
“Tabernacle Road is one of the first road contracts I awarded when I came in as a governor in 2023. The construction of that road was signed at the same time with the construction of 1.1km dilapidated access route to Goretti Secondary School in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. But the contractor handling the Goretti Road has long completed his job and the road in now in use, but Nsik Engineering is still at the ground breaking level at Tabernacle Road.”
“I met Nsik as a road construction contractor. He is from my local government area. As there were complaints that government does not give jobs to local contractors, my administration changed that narrative and we awarded contract to both foreign and local contractors. But today, local contractors are the ones disappointing us. Always you have to go about begging them, pampering them to do the jobs they were paid for”
“Nsik Engineering even reported me to my Traditional Ruler. I went and showed him all the papers. And our Traditional Ruler saw the situation with me, and he pleaded that I should give him (Nsik) more time and I did. Because of that road, I have received all manner of insults from the public and I have notified him already. If by July that road is not completed, I will terminate the contract,” Governor Eno vowed..
Governor Eno, who was angry by the slow pace of road construction by the local contractor, announced to set up committee for the soon-to- be-constructed Ikot Akpan Abia Road linking Enen Nsit.
The governor said Ikot Akpan Abia-Enen Nsit Road leads to his community, and for this reason that road must be constructed by his administration because the Nsit nation may not produce another governor any time soon.
“I am from Nsit. I will be going home to rest after my service to the state as governor. The road Ikot Akpan Abia – Enen Nsit leads to my village. I see no reason why I am a governor from Nsit nation and the road leading to my place is not constructed.
”The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, in one month’s time, we should award the road construction of Ikot Akpan Abia -Enen Nsit Road,” Governor Eno announced.
On establishment of industries, Eno said ‘‘Government can only succeed if you run a multi-purpose vehicle and allow it run like Ibom Air is doing. Even at that, you like CBN, lender of last resort. Government cannot run business. Some people say I have not established industries.
‘‘The ones that were established, where are they now? Government is an enabler to businesses. Government with the structure of civil service cannot establish business,’’ he added.
