Akpan Umoh, Uyo
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi on Friday inaugurated 17.95km Anua-Mbak-Ishiet Road in Uruan Local Government of Area Akwa Ibom as part of Gov. Udom Emmanuel completion agenda.
Mohammed praised Emmanuel for taking development to the hinterlands, saying that the people are happy for the new lease of life.
According to him, the governor has used his experience and pedigree to bring to bear in governance through inventions and innovations particularly in urban renewal and rural development.
“I can see that the people of this community are positively touched by your midas touch because you have delivered what they craved for so many years.
“With your age, pedigree and experience, and what you have testified with these infrastructural development by transforming the rural Akwa Ibom to centre of excellence, you have written your name in gold, ” Mohammed said.
In his remarks, Emmanuel said that his concentration on rural communities was to work the talk on his second term completion agenda.
“These days, I’ve been taking my colleagues to join me for commissioning of projects in the rural areas because these are the people that voted for us. These are the people that make PDP thick by showing faith in the party.
“We might not be able to go into houses one after the other but if we do a life touching project like the Anua-Mbak-Ishiet road that traverses two local government areas we know we’re touching lives of the rural dwellers,” Emmanuel said.
The governor assured on the completion of a second phase of the road to provide smooth access to the Uruan Paramount Ruler’s palace.
He promised to make funds available before exiting office to avoid leaving financial burden on the incoming administration.
The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, said the 17.95km Anua-Mbak-Ishiet road has 13.1km alignment which is 10.3m wide with side drains.
Ibanga said that specifications of the road meets the standards of road construction anywhere in the world as it has150mm laterite sub-base, 150mm crush stone base and 50mm asphalt wearing course.
He added that phase I of the project links several communities to Ring Road III and it has opened up the area for commercial activities, especially transportation of sea foods to the urban areas and outside the state.