TheHILL. Posted by HENSHAW NYONG.
Akwa Ibom State government has again assured residents that the current administration will not rest until the ongoing construction of the IBB Avenue flood control project and other life-touching projects across the 31 LGAs are completed.
Briefing newsmen shortly after inspecting the massive flood control project which took over six hours, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Environment, Sir Charles Udoh, said that the flood project was in line with Governor Udom Emmanuel’s preparation ahead of the rainy season, stating that it is in line with his desire to keep the State’s environment and property safe from the menace of flood which has been noticed in the previous years.
“The Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has assured the safety of our properties and environment by eradicating the menace caused by flood in previous years. That’s why I’m here to authenticate the quality of work done here, and to also ensure it is delivered as at when due.”
While harping on the current state of the project, the State Environment Commissioner expressed satisfaction at the pace of the project, maintaining that the flood control project will be completed and inaugurated in no time.
“The project as we’ve seen is a multi billion dollar project that cuts through three different Local Government Areas of the state. It is massive, and having seen the rate of work done here thus far, I can unequivocally states that the pace at which this is done is impressive.”
Sir Udoh opined that the greatest stimulating situation faced by government in the course of successfully construction of this flood control project is the burden of compensation on the state government.
” It is normal for individuals or government to encounter a challenging situation, compensation for buildings in these communities is ours.
Some buildings have been grossly affected, and for the government of Udom Emmanuel to achieve its priority in flood control, these buildings must be demolished. There’s noway we can take down these building without paying complete compensation to the owners. This has placed a high financial burden on the government, but it’s a burden we must carry.”
The IBB flood control project which is aged fifteen (15), covers a total of twenty one (21) communities and three (3) Local Government Areas; Uyo, Ibesikpo and Nsit Ibom. It is10m deep, covering 8.4km, and it’s like a man-made stream emptying water from these 21 communities to an open basin in Ibesikpo LGA. For now, it is the biggest flood control project in the history of Nigeria.
Some areas which have been victims of flooding, for example; the Police Primary School, Ikot Akpan Abia where some of the class blocks and administrative blocks have been completely destroyed, IBB avenue will at the completion of this flood control project be set free from this flood menace.
