Tony Okoh|
Oil-rich Eket local government Area of Akwa Ibom state is gradually wearing a new look.
The city is now a major construction site with bulldozers and other earth moving equipment working round the clock courtesy of the state Governor Deacon Udom Emmanuel’s infrastructural expansion programme.
Coming with a wealth of experience from the private sector, the governor had predicated his ongoing industrialization agenda on sound and befitting infrastructures to encourage investors and tourists access the nooks and cranny of the state.
One of the completed road projects
Thus from a shanty town with ancient buildings and narrow roads causing major traffic jam owing to increased human activities, Eket in no distant time will become a major investors and tourists heaven with infrastructural facilities seen in only modern day mega cities across the world.
The remodeled Eket city will have a dual carriage way with underground drainage system, side furniture and street lights with beautifully designed gardens.
The city’s major roundabout perhaps the biggest in the country will be fitted with beautiful water fountain connoting the Aquatic splendor which the oil rich city is known for. However remodeling Eket city is coming at a huge cost to the state owing to the poor planning of the city hitherto and for a government that places premium on the people getting adequate value in compensation for their buildings, the cost of getting structures on the road paths is amazingly high. Yet the government pays it to ensure the citizens are happy.
So far many building on the right of way has been demolished after compensations have been paid to the owners to further push the project.
Even those who had wanted the status quo to remain are beginning to envisage the beauty and splendor the new city will behold to residents, investors and tourist alike and embraced the revolution.
Works Commissioner, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen on an inspection tour of some project sites
Taking newsmen on inspection of the ongoing infrastructural revolution in the state yesterday, the commissioner for works Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen emphasized the determination of Governor Emmanuel’s led administration to transform rural areas to modern cities to make life more meaningful for the citizens. He made it clear that those who tried to resist the ongoing infrastructural renaissance in the state will be ignored as nobody can hold the entire community or state to ransom.
According to Mr. Inyangeyen, “you can not make an omelet without breaking an egg” so Eggs are being broken in Eket and the omelets are forming.
Don’t mind these noise that you hear, when we are through with construction of these roads they will be the ones to still come back and thank the governor for his vision and big heart”
Before the stop over at Eket, the Commissioner had earlier inspected Atan offot road network and expressed satisfaction with the pace of work in the community.
At the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene dual carriage high way, every structure, which compensations has been duly paid for were pulled down from utu Ikpe Annang to kilometer 23 and cleaned up awaiting the contractors to extend their jobs further.
According to the commissioner, before 23rd September 2018, the contractors are expected to hit or arrive at the Four Point Sheraton hotel Ikot Ekpene as directed by the Governor.
One of the ongoing projects
In his words,“What may seem to delay the pace of work there would be that, from kilometre 23 to 25, the entire stretch is a fully built up area (with structures) and will need huge sums for compensations.
“But His Excellency has given a marching order, that by September 23rd, when the state would be celebrating its 31st Anniversary, we should be arriving at Four Point Sheraton”.
At Etinan roundabout by Etinan Institute along Ikot Oku Ikono-Etinan road project, the Commissioner took his time to supervise the massive demolition of structures, and cleaning-up exercise to allow for speedy execution of the remodeling of the roundabout.
He expressed satisfaction with the commitment and determination shown on the part of contractors to deliver on these projects according to the stipulated terms.