Jonathan inaugurates 1.3km underground flood control tunnel in A’Ibom

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has inaugurated the 1.3 Kilometres underground concrete flood control tunnel project in Uyo.

The reconstruction of a section of Atiku Abubakar Way, with a walkway, drainage, and solar street lights and the reconstruction of adjourning 1km Afaha Ube Road was undertaken during the current administration by Gov. Umo Eno.

Jonathan during the inauguration on Wednesday, 24 April 2024, lauded the governor for his leadership strides having prioritised the needs of his people, which has been demonstrated in his ingenuity of initiating and completing such major life-touching projects within his first year in office.

He described Eno as a proactive leader who is worthy of commendation given the recent flood alert by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

The former president urged Akwa Ibom people to be vigilant against antisocial elements and vandalism of public infrastructure.

Eno in his remarks, expressed gratitude to the former President, his predecessor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom people and well-wishers on his birthday.

The governor restated the resolve of his administration to use the commonwealth of Akwa Ibom people to put smiles on their faces through life-touching projects and programmes that will ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

“We are committed to touching lives; we are committed to improving the standard of living of our people.

“We are committed to rural development and we are committed to providing those soft and hard infrastructure but the time we are in now demands soft infrastructure.

“The time demands that we feed our people, it demands that we help them go back to the farm.

“It demands that our people take advantage of all of the contracts that are providing so many jobs for our young people.

“And it demands that we keep being in peace to continue to attract investment to our state to be able to continue to provide jobs to our people,” Eno said.

Eno described the Atiku Abubakar way and drainage interventions as a product of faith and circumstance, adding that the project is one of the interventions of his administration in response to citizen’s outcry.

He commended the contractor Hensek Integrated Services, for satisfactorily interpreting the Government’s vision in the project execution.

The governor called on all residents in the State to join hands in ensuring development in line with the Arise agenda.

“I do not know the young man that sent me that photograph on this road, but we are here courtesy of that young man.

“So, if you notice anything in your environment, you can send it to us. We will look at it, prioritise it, handle it and try to see how we can come to your aid. What this shows is that all of us can collectively run this state,” he said.

He warned the people against vandalism and charged the people to take up the challenge of protecting infrastructure within their domains as a communal responsibility.

Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, said the project which was awarded in Aug. 2023 has been completed to specifications.

Ibanga added that the flood project is guaranteed of deflooding the entire stretch of Atiku Abubakar Way and its environs as well as restoring life to the city.