By Anietie Akpan
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has said his administration will continue to open up roads in rural areas for the free flow of goods and services, in order to stimulate the economy of the state.
Fielding questions from Government House Correspondents shortly after his inspection of ongoing projects in Nsit Ubium and Eket Local Government Areas, the Governor said his government was committed to delivering people-centeric projects in line with the ARISE Agenda, to improve living conditions, boost rural connectivity, and stimulate growth across the State.
The Governor who once again appreciated the people of the State for nominating him as gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections, reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing the interest of the people in his development agenda.
“I’m very interested in opening up rural communities because accessibility to markets, schools, and farms is very necessary for rapid economic growth of our people and our State.
“As we are opening up the rural communities, we are helping the movement of goods to the city, and we are also contributing to lowering the prices of these products,” he said.
Governor Eno expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work at some of the project sites visited, and admonished contractors not to relent on their work, but ensure that they keep to the projects’ delivery terms.
Giving a detailed overview of the Nsit Ubium – Eket Road, the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, disclosed that it is a 2.4km dual-carriage way with 120m bridge which, according to him, will greatly pave the way for communities along the axis to thrive economically.
Some of the projects the Governor visited were the ongoing 2.4km Ofriyo Road with 120-metre span bridge linking Nsit Ubium and Eket Local Government Areas, the General Hospital and the Model Primary School in Nsit Ubium , as well as the dualization of the 11.6km Ikot Imoh– Strabag Junction- Eket Road.
The Governor was accompanied on the inspection by the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga; Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah; alongside some contractors and notable stakeholders including; Engr Uwem Stephen Okoko, Managing Director, Hensek Integrated Services Limited, Chief Faysal Harb, Managing Director, Bulletin Construction Company, and Engr Aiman Saiman, Managing Director, Amitec Construction, Sir Monty Uko , Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN, and other community leaders.
