By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Stakeholders and residents of Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom have raised concerns over the state government’s lackaisical attitude to the deplorable condition of roads in the oil-rich city.
They expressed worry that most of the internal roads done over 30 years ago by Mobil Producing Nigeria(MPN), now ExxonMobil as part of its corporate social responsibility(CSR) have collapsed thereby giving the city a dismal look.
Findings reveal that no fewer 18 major link roads within the oil-rich have either broken down completely or riddled with deep potholes with the most affected being Idua, Ibekwe, Ikot Udoma,Mkpok, Enenekpene, Editung and Oron roads.
Eket is the headquarters of Eket Senatorial district and a few kilometres away from ONNA Local Government Area where Governor Udom Emmanuel hails from and a few kilometres away from Ibeno, where the ExxonMobil Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT) is located.
Worried with the bad state of road infrastructure, the leaders of the area said it is worrisome that Eket, an oil-bearing community and headquarters of the senatorial district where Governor Udom Emmanuel hails from could be left to rot.
They also decried the slow pace of work on the Eket Town remodeling started by the Emmanuel administration more than 5 years ago, describing the project as ‘a grand deception’.
One of them who craved anonymity said, “the state government is not interested in rehabilitating bad roads in Eket. And even the so-called remodeling project is a grand deception. Ask the government to show you the master plan of the remodeling.
A former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Bassey Essien disclosed that successive administrations in the state had refused to construct even a kilometre of road in Eket or rehabilitate existing ones which were constructed by Mobil.
“Come to think of it successive administrations in the state have not constructed a single road in Eket despite the fact that this area is the hen that lays the Golden Egg not just for this state but also the country.
“Even more disturbing is that the Governor is from Onna, which is just a stone throw from here. Eket is the headquarters of his sentarial district yet he doesn’t consider it important to at least carry out palliative measures on the roads.” He said.
Victor Assam, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress(APC), who resides in Eket narrated the ordeal faces by motorists and commuters sa result of the terrible condition of the roads.
“I am short of words. I have not driven my car for months now because the roads are terribly bad. It’s not easy repairing your car each time it gets damaged as a result of bad roads.
“I can tell you that I am not the only one who has parked his vehicle because of terrible roads in this town. It’s very strange that Eket, an oil city, which produces a significant percentage of the country’s oil wealth has no good roads.” He lamented.
When contacted on phone, a former minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Renewal, Chief Nduese Essien said the state government has rehabilitated 10 internal roads in the area.
“I am quite aware that roads in Eket are in terrible shape but the good news is that the state government has contracted me to fix the roads.
As I speak, I have already repaired 10 of the roads and work on other roads are ongoing. The roads were constructed more than 30 years ago so little wonder they collapsed. “Essien explained.
