NewsAkwa Ibom’s N14bn World-Bank Drainage Billed For Completion In December

Akwa Ibom’s N14bn World-Bank Drainage Billed For Completion In December

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BEVERLY HILLS, June 01, (THEWILL) – The over two decades’ flood challenge, affecting 17 villages in Uyo, Ibesikpo and Nsit Ibom councils of Akwa Ibom State, will be completed before the end of 2021, the state Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has assured.

Emmanuel gave the assurance on Tuesday to the host communities of the ongoing World Bank-Assisted 8 kilometres IBB Drainage, saying the project would be completed and commissioned in December 2021.

THEWILL reports that the World Bank contributed N12 billion of the N14 billion total sum of the project, awarded since the beginning of the present administration in the state.

Inspecting the project, the Governor applauded the speed and quality of the project so far and reminded contractors handling the job that as a 100 percent pre-funded project, there was no excuse for the work to exceed December 2021, even as quality would not be compromised.

His words “We are here today to look at this perennial issue of flood that has been existing in this place for over 15 years. We are in government to solve problems, which is why we decided to undertake this 8km drainage, designed to take flood water off Uyo, through this channel into major outfall drains. The size of this drainage can take two salon cars side by side.”

He appreciated the World Bank for keying into the state government’s effort to ameliorate the sufferings the people were exposed to, by the perennial flood in the affected areas.

He said: “It is a World Bank-assisted project in partnership with the state government. So I want to thank the World Bank for partnering with the state government because we could not have done it alone. The project you are seeing here is going to cost more than $50m by the time we finish.

“There are some things we do that a professional politician would not agree to do. A professional politician would never do this because people wouldn’t see it to clap hands. It costs so much to take flood water out.

“The money we used here could have taken many kilometres of roads, or constructed one white elephant project. But that is not what good governance is about. We take in totality what would benefit the people.”

The Governor mentioned that the state government was equally partnering other bodies and agencies in the fight against erosion and flooding in the state.

Hon Commissioner for Environment, Mr Charles Udoh, said the 8km drainage was designed to link existing drains from Atiku, Abak road and Ring roads 2&3.

He explained that the design had given consideration to densely populated areas by ensuring that such areas were covered, while other less-inhabited areas would be equipped with fencing to reduce risks.

Member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly representing Ibesikpo Asutan, Mr. Aniekan Uko, whose community hosts the terminal point for the drainage, commended the state government for the safety measures put in place, hinting that alternative sources of water had been provided for the community as the only source of drinking water was destroyed by the construction work.

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