The Ikot Oku Ikono in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, host of the long-awaited flyover inaugurated on Friday, July 16, got more than they bargained for: three electricity transformers.
Emmanuel directed the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service to deliver them to the host community but warned that they would bear the cost in event of pilfering or theft of component parts of the transformers.
Contract for the project was awarded more than three ago to Julius Berger Nigeria. The flyover links Abak, Etinan and other local government areas with inter-states.
This was as former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday commissioned a one-kilometre flyover at Ikot Oku Ikono constructed by Governor Emmanuel administration.
Obasanjo, who was a special guest of honour at the inauguration ceremony, prayed God to give the governor, a good successor who would continue with his development strides in the state.
He commended Emmanuel for initiating and completing the project before the stipulated period of two years, stressing that the completion of a 1kiliometre flyover during the prevailing global economic recession was worth celebrating in any part of the world.
The former president who said that he did not make any mistake in 2019 when he canvassed support for the governor for a second term in office, also described himself as a lucky man to have the flyover built along Olusegun Obasanjo Way, a road previously named after him in 2016 by Victor Attah administration.
His words, ”My performing governor, my action governor, about two and half years ago when I came here and you asked the good people of Akwa Ibom State to give you a second opportunity to lead them and you told me what you have done and what you have in mind to do, I didn’t hesitate to tell Akwa Ibom people to support you.’’
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, promised that his ministry and the contracting firm will ensure that all the facilities and installations necessary for the safety and aesthetic value of the flyover are put in place in line with the specification of the project, and for the benefit of the road users.
He added: “This project was initiated two years ago, and if you remove the COVID-19 year you will see that this work has been done within just a year.
“What we are doing is to commission the flyover to allow for free flow of traffic and we assure that we are giving Akwa Ibom people a quality flyover with a warranty of at least 50 years lifespan.”
