Emmanuel Nicholas
To improve connectivity, that is the underlying reason the present administration under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has undertaken to lay emphasis on building and developing rural roads, which open up the suburbs and hinterlands, and then spill into the urban areas. Several roads are already underway and in various stages of completion under this bold policy. Hereunder is a comprehensive list of roads embarked upon in the rural areas.
* The 6.4 kilometre Nung Ukim Ikono road in Ikono Local Government area,
*The 5kilometre Mkpok Okat road in Onna
*The 6.5 Kilometre Idiaba Nda Nsit, Ikot Abasi, Nsit Atai, Nung Udoe Road,
*The1kilometre Awa Iman-Ikot Nkan road with outfall drains
*the Ikot Ebekpo - Ikot Ebidang road which links up to the East West road
*The 6.1Kilometere Nto Edino road to Ekwere Azu
*The 5.0 Kilometre Ikot Usop-Ikot Edeghe road in Mkpat Enin
*The 3.5 Kilometre Ikot Udom road with a 15.0 Metre bridge in Ibiono Ibom
*The Anua-Mbak Ishiet road in Uruan which runs through the Timber Market to Uruan beach with a spur to Oron road that leads traffic to Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort among others in view, and Arochuwu Road in Ini Local Government ,
The logic has been simple. All these stretches of rural roads under construction and others to be constructed over the next few years in the state are meant to improve connectivity and change the fortunes of the people. Aleady, the bulk of these rural roads in the state have started showing results in terms of improving the shoddy condition of the roads that link highways in the various localities with significant promises to impact positively on the economic and social indicators of the adjoining communities.
Terming road infrastructure is the prime factor that can change the fortunes of the rural areas, Governor Emmanuel has demonstrated commitment and taken all measures to maintain transparency and ensure that roads construction is all done with perfection.
To achieve this, Mr. Inyangeyen has placed high premium on transparency in handing over the work to indigenous contractors in clearly defined packages at prudently-estimated cost.
The Ministry ensures that there is no misuse of funds or delays by any contractor, with persistent monitoring and supervision as the Commissioner in charge of works and his officials are more often than not, on hand to inspect every aspect of the work done.
There is no gainsaying that, even though Akwa Ibom state boasts of a good layout of highways, the connects are considerably very poor and in most cases non-existent. The main business routes, which include inter Local Government roads are reduced in their advantage by the pathetic state of arterial intra rural roads that should spur or connect rural communities to the main highways.
It is a known fact that many of our rural communities do not have easy geographical area to work in. With undulating terrain and geological surprises, the conditions are made very difficult for local produce to be evacuated from rural farms or for commerce to thrive as access to the produce market in hinterlands is cumbersome.
All the rural roads currently under construction are scheduled statewide, to improve mobility of goods and services, now and in the future, as well as, arrest rural urban drift.
These rural road construction projects are also designed to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians, improve the flow of traffic and keep the urban connecting roads in good condition. It is also worthy to note that, our rural communities, have seen tremendous population growth in recent times.
If nothing is done to deliver infrastructure, such as good roads to these communities, the pull to migrate and spill into the urban cities, already stretched among the fastest growing municipalities in the nation will be unavoidable.
This is the reason the effort by Governor Emmanuel to develop the State from rural areas and reverse the previous trend of concentration in urban centres is very commendable.
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