‘We will treat them like saboteurs of the efforts of government’_ Commissioner

Akwa Ibom State government has expressed its commitment and determination to complete the ongoing drainage and erosion control project across three local government areas in the state and warned against any plot by miscreants to sabotage government’s effort.

This assurance was given by the state Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr. Charles Udoh, while interacting with journalists yesterday in Uyo, the state capital.

To achieve this, he disclosed that, government has to ensure that workers handling the project work both day and night to finish the project within the completion period of ninteen months.

The commissioner explained that for the past 15 years the state government has struggled to get water out of the 17 affected villages in three local government areas, namely Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan and Nsit Ibom particularly the IBB and it’s environs.

“The contract for that drainage/erosion control project was signed in May last year (2020). Of course , COVID-19 pandemic did not allow construction till October 2020 and we lost five months.

“So for that project, we have less than a year to go, and that is why we are working day and night to see it is completed. The project is a World Bank assisted project, and it is being handled by China Road and Bridges Corporation (CRBC), and NigerPet structures Limited.

“And if you don’t finish in time, they will withdraw their funds. And we cannot afford to stop work for one day. For the job to stop for one day, means that the state government will pay the price, the World Bank can pernalize us for that. I needed to explain these things to you for you to understand what we are doing.

Udoh condemned recent agitation by some youths of Anua Obio community, over non engagement of their services by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, noting that government ensured that both Casual and Skilled workers were employed from all the 17 communities.

He explained that before work commenced on the project, all the village heads and other stakeholders that were needed to be consulted were all consulted, stressing that nobody should complained that government did not do what it was supposed to do, except some misguided elements that may have other agenda.

“The economic life of the people was grounded. In fact the entire stretch of IBB Way, Uyo, and others were gone. And we are trying to bring back the economic life, and some people are going there to cause trouble because of their selfish interest. Of course if we allow that, some other miscreants will also wake up and do the same.

” So we are going to deal with that properly. As the project manager, I am superintending over the project. And we made sure that all the people we employed for both the casual and skilled Labour are from the 17 villages to avoid youth restiveness.

“We have the Grievance Committee that has members from each of those 17 villages. And they chose their Chairmen. Now we also have what is called Host Community Association and they nominated all their members. So if there is any issue that is legitimate, it should go through these Committees. And where they cannot deal with the issue , it is sent to my table.

“So any grievance that does not go through the Committees put in place is illegal and if persons causing trouble are caught we will treat them like saboteurs against the efforts of government”, he stressed.

Meanwhile, the youth President of Anua Obio who spoke to Journalists, Mr Ekembo Archibong lamented that they were not carried along by CRBC’s services and vowed that they would block the gate of the premises pending when their demands were met.