By Iniabasi Umo, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Government has abandoned the N19 billion worth Etebi Enwang bridge in Mbo local government area of the state started about 13 years ago to rot.
Investigations showed that only about 40 percent work has been carried out on the project, while the bigger part of the bridge along the 24km Etebi Enwang road has remained stagnant.
It was gathered that over N19.4billion had already been spent on the construction of the project from the original cost of N5.4billion, owing to several variations, before the project was handed over to Governor Emmanuel by the administration of former governor Godswill Akpabio.
Citizens of the area have expressed fear that the bridge which was supposed to be the longest in Nigeria meant to connect oil rich riverine communities of Mbo and Esit Eket LGA, and open up the area to the Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial city will again be abandoned.
They say with less than three years to the end of the current administration, it was doubtful that
Governor Udom Emmanuel would complete the project as the pillars of the bridge are yet to be completed, while the concrete overlay is less than 50 percent executed.
One of the construction worker at the site of the project who chose to remain anonymous told our correspondent that work has stopped due to lack of funds.
He said, “All I can say is that it seems funds is what is delaying work on the bridge. Work is going on but it is very very small compared with what we use to see before. This project use to engage about 500 workers but you can see that no body is even on site today, though work takes place once in a while”.
However, the Chief of Staff to Governor Emmanuel and the Commissioner supervising the Ministry of Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, has said the government was committed to the completion of projects in the state.
Speaking during a special inspection of ongoing road construction and other projects in the state at the weekend, Inyangeyen said the inspection was necessary for him to access the extent of work after the COVID-19 lockdown was relaxed.
He applauded the contractors for being serious with their work but warned them against using the rains as an excuse not to work, saying it was not tenable as certain kinds of work can still be done irrespective of the weather condition.
He appreciated the indigenes for cooperating with the contractors and assured them that government would be transparent with regards to the payment of compensation, adding that funds have been made available for the contractors.
“Let me use this instance to make some clarifications since I am still the supervising Commissioner for Works. Today, we went through local government by local government to see the jobs my boss; His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel has given out, and see the level of their completion.
“Government’s earnest intention is to see the work moving no matter the challenges. Apart from a little challenge that may be traced to delay in valuation for compensation to owners of structures in certain areas, with the assurances of the contractors, some parts or entire stretch of the roads I have inspected can be asphalted perhaps in the next one or two months, especially for the fact that drainage and earthwork had been done,” he said.
