Plans to dualise Abak-Ikot Abasi Road in Akwa Ibom State at N47 billion are underway following approval by the National Assembly Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.
Mr. Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) stated this Tuesday during interaction with leaders and stakeholders of Oro Think Tank from the five local government areas in Eket senatorial district of the state.
Ekere said: “NDDC will carry out the dualisation of Abak road all the way to Ikot Abasi to link with the East-West road. What NDDC is trying to do is that we will take that road from where it ends in Abak, the same standard that Julius Berger constructed, all the way to the East-West road.”
He stated that the commission has perfected plans to construct roads linking all coastal communities in the state, including Ibeno, Esit Eket, Eket and others.
The NDDC boss announced that NDDC would embark on a N20 billion electricity project in Akwa Ibom State.
Ekere said the commission would give special attention to the development and well-being of oil producing communities in the state, and called for the setting up of special statutory bodies to cater for the needs of oil-bearing areas in the country.
Earlier, Dr. Monday Dickson, the Chairman, Oro Think Tank, had lauded the NDDC under Ekere’s watch for the quality of roads executed in the Niger Delta region which he said was a complete departure from the past.
“Oro people know their friends. We can confidently describe you as one of the few friends of Oro in the state. It is on this record that during the Oro governorship struggle of 2015, you were the only person outside Oro who made a public case for Oro governorship despite being an aspirant.
“Sir, we are elated that 2019 is around the corner. Oro people are in brakeless anxiety waiting to exercise their franchise in favour of a friend who will restore Oro to its political lost glory. We count on your understanding and support,” Dickson said.