UDOM EMMANUEL: CONNECTING ECONOMIC NERVE CENTRES THROUGH QUALITY ROAD NETWORKS

_By Umoh-Obong Kingsley_

Akwa Ibom State has witnessed impressive milestones in her socio-economic development consequent upon Governor Emmanuel's 5-point agenda of Job Creation, Poverty alleviation, Wealth creation, Infrastructural consolidation and, Economic and Political inclusion. The agenda has achieved life-touching projects in various sectors of the economy.


With the ongoing 8-point Completion Agenda of Industrialization, Aviation Development, Rural and Riverine Area Development, Agriculture, Human Capacity Development, Security, Infrastructure, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, many more landmark achievements are dotting the landscape of the State.

Road infrastructural development has been the priority of the Udom Emmanuel-administration in stimulating economic growth of the state. This is because road infrastructure plays a crucial role by providing mobility for the efficient movements of people and goods, as well as providing accessibility to a wide variety of commercial and social activities.

Since the advent of Governor Udom Emmanuel, there has been a quantum leap in the number of roads and bridges constructed by the State government. So far recorded are over 1,700km of roads, and 40 bridges have been undertaken in addition to rehabilitation of many rural roads across the three senatorial districts of the State.

Uyo Senatorial District has received enormous boost in road infrastructural development. While most of the roads have been completed, others are ongoing. Some of the numerous roads include the dualized 20.0km Uyo – Etinan Road (Ikot Oku Ikono); dualized 9.5km Ring Road III (From Aka Road – Oron Road – Nwaniba Road) with 3 Roundabouts; and Dualized 3.5km Ring Road II, Uyo.

There are several other construction works across the district such as the 2.1km Road around State Secretariat Annex and Believers Assembly, Mbiabong Etoi, Uyo; 1.5km Nsikak Eduok – Tropicana Outfall Drain; 6.1km Atan Offot Road in Uyo Local Government Area; 6.0km Idiaba – Nda Nsit–Ikot Abasi (Nung Udoe) Road in Nsit Atai Local Government Area; 19.317km Anua – Mbak – Ishiet Road, and the 3.5km Ikot Udom Road with 15m Span Bridge in Ibiono Ibom LGA.


Remodeling and rehabilitation of selected roads, strategic junctions and roundabouts in Uyo Metropolis, Phase I

Construction of 9.76km Ancillary Roads with a 60m Span Bridge in Nsit Ubium LGA; Construction of 1.3km Ntiedo Udosen Street; Construction of 4.0km Mbiatok Ekritam – Mbiaya Uruan Road with Spur; Construction of 8.5km Nduetong Oku Ibiaku Uruan – Ekritam Road with Spur in Itu/Uruan LGA, under the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA); Construction of 1.05km  Information Drive, Uyo; Construction of 9.0km Mbiaya Uruan – Ita – Ikpa – Mbiakong Uruan Road with 60m Span Bridge in Uruan LGA through (APFA); Construction of 5.0km Ewet Housing Extension; Construction of 12.15km Enen Nsit – Obotong – Ikot Enwene – Edebom – Oboetuk – Ikot Obok – Mbiakom – Obo Atai -Oboyo Ikot Ita in Nsit Ibom and Ikot Akpa Edu – Ikot Iko – Ikot Akpan Abia Road in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA with 30m Span Bridge in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA and Construction of 5.0km T Junction – Mary Slessor Hospital Road with 30m span Bridge.

Intervention works have also been carried out on several streets within the Uyo metropolis, some of which include 0.15km Ebong Lane; 0.19km Ebong Street; 0.61km Asutan Street; 0.25km Akparen Street; 0.18km Ibiono Lane; 0.25km Etoi Street; 0.54km Nung Atai; 0.16km Udotung Ubo Lane; 2.7km Afaha Etok, Ibesikpo;
1.5km Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan, Ibesikpo and 2.5km Afaha Atai Village Crescent.

These road networks have brought about improvement in the economy of the state as farmers are able to link up goods and services with their clients, as well as create enabling environment for investors to invest in the state.