By EEmeka Ogenyi
The Federal Government has said it would investigate the cause of the abandonement of the expansion and rehabilitation work on the Ikot Ekpene-Aba section of the Uyo/Aba federal highway.
Senate President, Ahmed Lawan who made this known while ommissioning the 25Km dualized Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road in Akwa Ibom said the National Assembly would also partner the state to advocate for a speedy extension of the dual carriage to Aba.
Lawan who noted that the project initiated by the administration of Gov. Gooswill Akpabio was inherited at 20per cent completion by Gov. Udom Emmanuel however pledged to partner the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure refund of amount expended by the state government on construction of the road.
The Senate President commended Governor Emmanuel for his unwavering belief in the unity, peace, development and progress of Nigeria, and for remaining a model in his approach to governance.
“Governor Udom Emmanuel is justice, unity peace progress development. you are right in all the actions you take. when this road was left at 20per cent completion, you took it over, that explains how much you love your people. you are pan Nigeria, reasonable and purposeful.
“You have been very progressive. you are showing us how to develop our country. Though a federal road, you decided to complete it for your people. You have demonstrated to Nigerians that business of development must be on all tiers of government. What the Federal government needs is partnership, coorperation and development together.
“You more than deserve refund. I will join you in talking to the Minister of Works and Housing to facilitate refund. Let me use this opportunity to encurage other state Governors to imitate Akwa Ibom. Let me also commend other states who have done same. I will join the advocacy for extension of this road Uyo Aba.” He said.
He expressed sadness over the socioeconomic challenges confronting Nigeria and called on all tiers of government to join hands to deal with such challenges.
“We need honesty and sincerity of leadership. it doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, your political or religious affiliations, we must unite to build Nigeria.” Lawan added.
Emmanuel had earlier declared that the road was constructed with state’s resources that would have been channelled to the development of other sectors of the state’s economy, and therefore appealed to the Federal government to ensure prompt refunds to the state.
He made a case for extension of the dualization to Aba in Abia State to promote ease of doing business for both states and other parts of the country.
