Hope of controlling the persistent flooding along the popular IBB Avenue, Uyo, the state capital frequently plied by motorists, keke operators and pedestrians is dimming as the project requires N56 billion.
Governor Udom Emmanuel while interacting with journalists at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo on Saturday said the amount was proposed by World Bank as a solution to the perennial problem.
Whenever it rains heavily, the avenue passing through Department of Social Welfare under Ministry of Women Affairs and abutting parts of the state government-owned Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, is usually flooded, thus becoming impassable except on the risk of the road users.
Last year, the state Ministry of Works undertook remedial work using stone base on the road, though the base has failed to control flooding if it rains heavily.
Answering a question from a journalist on what his administration has done to control the erosion, the governor said the money needed to take water out of the road is enough to fund other emergency sub-heads in the yearly budget.
Unfortunately, the flooding usually seep into the premises and offices of Department of Social Welfare, break its perimeter fence and make it difficult for staff to park their vehicles within the premises.
However, Governor Udom assured to partner World Bank in controlling erosion menace in Ekpri Nsukarra, Uyo and other erosion-devastated and proned areas in the state.
In another development, Federal Government is said to be owing Akwa Ibom government N10 billion spent on the provision of facilities of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.
Governor Udom Emmanuel who announced this when he briefed journalists in Uyo, Saturday, said the money was spent on to build a Sub-station at Ekim Itam in Itu local government area including other sub-stations in the state.
He expressed worry why the company is not subsiding tariffs charged consumers in the state when the state government has invested so much in the provision of facilities for the company.
