By Akanimo Kufre (Uyo)
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has taken the infrastructural consolidation agenda of his administration to the hinterland with the commissioning of a Civic Centre, 20km Nda Nsit-Idiaba-Ikot Abasi Road in Nsit Atai Local Government Area and a 33 /11kv Injection Sub Station at Edet Akpan Avenue in Uyo, the state capital.
Addressing the people of Idiaba during the inauguration of a civic centre for Ibiaikot group of villages in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Governor Udom charged youths to maintain surveillance on infrastructural facilities in their domain.
He frowned at the incessant vandalization of electrical installations experienced along Ibom International Airport road, saying that the present economic realities require consolidation on existing infrastructure rather than replacing already provided amenities.
The Transition Committee Chairman of the area, Mr Uduak Ekpenyong, said the civic centre was one of the infrastructures that the founding fathers of the Area had desired to build to serve as a rallying point for the community activities and thanked the Governor for making their dream come to reality saying, that the people are appreciative of the gesture.
The Nsit Atai House of Assembly member and facilitator of the project, Mr Mark Essien, described Governor Emmanuel as leader par excellence and a promise keeper saying that the Governor has kept to his promise of extending the infrastructure consolidation programme of his administration to the grassroots of which Nsit Atai people have benefitted immensely and assured the Governor of a block vote from the people to enable him achieve his second term agenda.
The Clan Head presented a native cow to the Governor wishing him a happy birthday and a smooth tenure in office.
Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel led Senator Godswill Akpabio to Commission a – six kilometre road traversing Nda Nsit-Idiaba-Ikot Abasi to Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government, saying the road was a fulfilment of the promise made to the people during his campaign visit to Nsit Atai in March, 2015.
According to him, “There is nothing that disturbs a leader as when you makes a promise and due to unforeseen circumstances unable to fulfil that promise, you will feel bad, that is why I’m standing here to thank the contractors because even though we have not completely paid them on this job, they used their money to complete this job for us to commission this road today.”
Governor Emmanuel commended the contractor’s dexterity on the project execution saying that they have provided excellent drainage and thanked the Commissioner for Works Mr Ephraim Inyang for not compromising standard in the project execution.
The Governor thanked the community for their peaceful disposition assuring that more development projects of world class would be sited in the area to complement activities of the Ibom International Airport.
An Elder statesman and former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Major General Edet Akpan (rtd), said that Governor Emmanuel has a clear vision of providing quality leadership to the people given his excellent track record of performance stressing that one good turn deserves another and thanked the Governor for opening up the area for development through the road construction.
“At the beginning of your tenure, I refused to join the bandwagon to endorse you for a second term. I wanted to observe your performance. Today, I appreciate your good works and I can tell you, I have joined the bandwagon. I join the Ibibio people to endorse you for a second term in Office,” he said.
Also, the Uyo Federal House of Representatives member Mr Michael Enyong said the Governor has silenced critics by spreading projects across the state.
At 4-Lane, Uyo along Edet Akpan Avenue where he commissioned 33/11 kv, 2/15MVA Electricity Injection Sub-station, Governor Udom described electricity as catalyst to industrialization saying ‘our duty is to work towards the industrialization of the entire state because we cannot talk about bringing investors to partner on industrialization if you don’t provide electricity to the people. The enabling environment must be created and sustained,” he maintained.
He said that the administration started by providing electricity at Okobo and Ini Local Government Areas of the state and that construction of another sub- station in Ekim, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, has reached advanced stage, adding that a test – run of 24 hour electricity supply would be carried out in about five local government areas of the state.
“By the time we finish the injection sub-station in Ekim power station, minimum of five local government areas would stand as a test – run to enjoy uninterrupted power supply”.
Emmanuel particularly commended the cooperation of various communities in ensuring steady supply of electricity maintaining that the aim was to showcase the state as a model in electricity supply for other parts of Africa.
He noted that the provision of adequate electricity supply would boost economic activities and projects in the oil and gas free trade zone in Ikot Abasi and facilitate the commencement of industries in the industrial city of Mbo Local Government Area.
The Chairman of Ibom Power Company, Engineer Etido Inyang, commended the governor for his outstanding performance in the areas of electricity, infrastructure and human development, adding that the commissioning of the power sub-station, was in fulfilment of the Governor’s promise of providing the people with improved electricity supply.
Engineer Inyang assured that the Ekim injection sub-station would become operational before December this year and expressed hope that the challenge with transmission line to enable adequate evacuation and distribution of power in some parts of the state, would be resolved.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Power and Managing Director of Ibom Power Company, Engineer Meyen Etukudoh, hinted that the new injection sub-station project which kicked – started in July last year has provided improved power to residents of Shelter Afrique, Ewet Housing/Extension, Osongama, Edet Akpan Avenue (Four Lanes), Nsikak Eduok Avenue and Brooks Street, adding that with the commissioning of the station in Uyo, the Oron 33/11KV, 2/15 MVA sub station would be relieved to serve other areas in the city.
Engineer Etukudoh said that the Uyo sub-station has a modern inbuilt circuit and other components for easy operations and expressed appreciation to the governor for his determination to carry on despite initial challenge of securing location for the project.
The Clan Head of Offot Ukwa, Etebom Sylvanus Okon, thanked the governor for citing the project in Uyo and lauded the achievements of the governor in the last two years, pledging the loyalty of Uyo people to the present administration.
In all the project sites visited, stakeholders and people of the host communities turned out in their numbers to cheer up the occasion and thanked the Governor for bringing development to their communities as cultural display added colour to the commissioning ceremony.
