–we are living in tears, traditional ruler cries out over abandoned road
–work slowed down due to lack of funds, Ministry of Works
By Shadrach Okon
Controversy has trailed the recent document released by Akwa Ibom State Government which Jerome Ekwere Street (Redemption Radio Road) in Abak Local Government Area was listed as one of the projects executed by Governor Umo Eno in Abak Federal Constituency in the past 20 months of his administration.
It would be recalled that on 8th March, Akwa Ibom State Government held a Town Hall Meeting and Constituency Briefing in Abak Federal Constituency. The event featured the celebration of the achievements of Governor Umo Eno in Abak Federal Constituency within the 20 months of his administration and the presentation of the Needs Document of Abak Federal Constituency to the governor.
In the programme booklets shared to participants at the event, Jerome Ekwere Street also known as Redemption Radio Road in Abak was listed as one of the projects executed by Governor Umo Bassey Eno in the federal constituency.
Also, in the Needs Document that Stakeholders of Abak Federal Constituency presented to Governor Umo Eno, Redemption Radio Road in Abak, was listed as an ‘Executed Project’. The road was included as part of the 29 projects executed by Governor Eno’s administration in 20 months.
Following this claim, the Guide Newspaper carried out an investigation to verify the state of construction work on the road.
This reporter who visited Jerome Ekwere Street (Redemption Radio Road) in Abak observed that the road was still in deplorable state, littered with potholes caused by gully erosion which continue to move headway to the road. Also, a section of the road was flooded due to the rain that fell a night before the visit.
One of the sources who spoke with this reporter on the state of the road was the Village Head of Oku Abak, Etteidung Aniefiok Okoko Udoma. He revealed during an interview with this reporter that the 1.65km Redemption Radio Road construction project in Abak was abandoned over a year ago by an unknown contractor handling the road project.
According to him, “When government commenced the construction of the road project, we were rejoicing but now our joy has turned to tears. The road project started after ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel visited Redemption Radio to commission the station. That was when Mr Udom Emmanuel promised that the road will be construted for us. Shortly, after he made that promise, we saw an unknown contractor visiting the community to start construction of drainage in a section of the road, later the project was abandoned before the rainy season in 2023.”
Etteidung Aniefiok Udoma who was flanked by the secretary of the village Mr Cornelius Peter lamented that people in the village were living in tears due to the deplorable state of the road which has hampered economic activities in the area, caused commuters, pedestrians and residents of the area to suffer especially during the season.
“As we are talking, we are living in tears everyday because of the state of that road. Now, commuters park their vehicles by Abak International Nursery School, and trek to the road due to the deplorable state of the abandoned road. We don’t know if Governor Umo Eno is aware that the road project has long been abandoned. ”
“We don’t even know the name of the contractor or the construction company handling that Jerome Ekwere Road because we just saw one man coming to start construction work on the road without consulting the village council. ” Etteidung Udoma added.
Also, one of the residents of Jerome Ekwere Street in Abak Mr. Ubong Effiong, told the Guide Newspaper that poor condition of the road posed serious risk to people in the community especially the safety of school children who find it difficult to pass on the road when which is usually flooded during rainy season.
Ubong Effiong said: “The state of this road is a serious challenge to us living here. Aside from the residents of this community, visitor and other road users find it difficult to access houses on this road because the road is always flooded in this rainy season that is approaching. The safety of school children using this road is always a major concern to us when it rains. The road is in dire state.”
Also speaking on the state of the road construction project, one of the residents of the area Mr Unyime Essien recalled that an unidentified contractor visited the road and started drainage construction which was abandoned after 2023 General Elections.
The Guide Newspaper reports that N100million was voted for the 1.65km Redemption Radio Road construction project in Abak in the 2024 supplementary budget of Akwa Ibom State Government approved by the State House of Assembly.
When this reporter contacted the Commissioner of Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga to speak on the state of Redemption Radio Road project, he responded through whatsapp message that contract for the construction of 1.65km Redemption Radio Road in Abak was awarded to Maveton Investment Ltd on 06/04/2022, during the administration of ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“The work should be ongoing and was awarded to Maveton Investment Ltd on 06/04/2022. I am not in town but you can contact the Engineer in charge of Direct Labour jobs for further details. I am presently out of Nigeria.” Prof. Eno Ibanga said.
He said he was presently out of the country and referred this reporter to speak with the Engineer in charge of Direct Labour jobs for further details on the project.
Maveton Investment Ltd according to data retrieved from the official Website of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), was registered as a company with CAC on April 8, 2022 with RC -1916913.
The Guide Newspaper reports that from the date of contract award provided by the Commissioner of Works and Fire Service, Akwa Ibom State Government awarded contract for construction of the road to Maveton Investment Ltd before the company was legally registered with Corporate Affairs Commission.
Speaking with this reporter in a telephone conversation, the Engineer in charge of Direct Labour jobs in Akwa Ibom State Engr. Uwem Akpan said the road construction project slowed down due to lack of funds and assured that the contractor would be remobilized back to site.
According to him, “The project was slowed down because the contractor was complaining of lack of funds, but I can assure you that things will turn around. The contractor has been remobilised, from next week construction work will resume on the the road, I can assure you.”
Efforts to speak with Maveton Investment Ltd proved abortive as the contractor neither pick his calls nor responded to messages sent to his mobile telephone line.
