By Odo Ogenyi,Uyo
As Governor Udom Emmanuel gets set to inaugurate more roads in Akwa Ibom, residents and commuters at the newly constructed RingRoad 2 in Uyo and Afaha Iman /Ekpene Obom Road in Etinan Local Council have commended the Governor for his efforts in linking both rural and urban communities with good roads.
The Ekpene Obom road which leads to the over 100 years old Qua Iboe Church Leprosy Hospital in the area is a 3.5km road project while the RingRoad 2 is a 3.5km, dual carriage expressway with walkway median and street lightings.
The Ring Road 2 project is to be inaugurated on Friday by Governor Udom Emmanuel while the Ekpene Obom road project is billed for inauguration next Tuesday.
Conducting journalists around the project locations, Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Mr Essien Ndueso maintained that the Governor has lived up to his promise of delivering massive dividends of democracy to the people of Akwa Ibom State until the last day of his tenure in office.
Ndueso explained that the Governor’s promise to ensure easy assess to basic healthcare services in the state and opening up of rural communities for economic activities informed the new expressway to the ancient Leprosy Hospital in Ekpene Ibom constructed in the last decade of the 19th century.
He maintained that the road has also opened up neighboring communities around Ekpene Obom and also given life to the economic and natural resources of the area and its environs.
Speaking at the Ring Road II project, the contractor, Engineer Uwem Okoko expressed appreciation to Governor Udom Emmanuel for providing indigenous contractors with the opportunity to handle major roads projects.
The RingRoad which connects Aka Road axis of Udo Udoma Avenue with Olusegun Obasanjo Way, has a drainage which is 3.3km long and 5m deep, and empties into the main canal of the IBB Road drainage system.
Some indigenes of Etinan, including Godwin Inyang Ufot a youth leader in Afaha Iman, Etinan and Nsisong Usoro, a youth activist from Ikot Abasi said their people were very grateful to the Governor for responding positively to their years of prayers and cries.
Other roads marked for inauguration this period by the Governor, include the 23km Eket – Etinan dual carraige Road, the 20km link roads at Ukanafun and the 19km road and spurs linking Anua in Uyo with Mbak -Ishiet in Uruan Local Council.
