Bisola David
The governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Duoye Diri, has opened a 12.5-kilometer road that runs through Ikot Akpan Afaha and Ikot Oku Usung in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
According to Nigerian Tribune, while commissioning the project, the Bayelsa State Governor, commended the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration, for initiating and completing the road project.
Sen. Diri stated that the 12.5 kilometer road continues to be a strategic undertaking that will support community economic and social development.
As the event’s special guest, Governor Diri praised Governor Udom Emmanuel as a quiet achiever, a pacesetter, and a man of character and thanked him for bringing happiness to the residents of Ukanafun and, by extension, the state.
He continued by saying that Governor Emmanuel’s government has undergone a remarkable transition as a result of the widespread distribution of democratic dividends to the populace.
“We are gathering to honor a man who has excelled as a working governor for the people who, up until this point, had been denied access to a very important infrastructure, of which only one stands out.
He added that when a community is connected with a road, you truly introduce civilization to that community and open it up for economic and social development. He said, “The governor of Akwa Ibom is quietly carrying out these actions.”
As a result, the governor of Bayelsa state congratulated the residents of Ukanafun and Akwa Ibom for their support of the Peoples Democratic Party and advised them to do the same for Pastor Umo Eno, the state’s next governor.
Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel remarked that one of the projects carried out in accordance with his administration’s eight-point program, which prioritizes rural development, is the 12.5km Ikot Akpan Afaha-Ikot Oku Usung road in Ukanafun.
He disclosed that once he leaves office on May 29, 2023, electricity and medical projects will also be launched.
The Governor pledged that the renovation project for the Ukanafun General Hospital would be completed and thanked the residents of Ukanafun for their support during the general elections. He added that his government will provide the required logistics to ensure the hospital’s completion.
The immediate former state party chairman, the late Hon. Udo Ekpenyong, had several areas that were connected by the road project, thus the state chief executive was especially grateful to Sen. Douye Diri for accepting the offer to officially open it.
“We made a vow that we would visit rural communities specifically during this campaign to show how important rural development was to our second term’s 8-point program and to show how much we value them. Today, we have electricity, cottage hospitals, water projects, small food processing enterprises, and road infrastructure across the rural districts,” according to Mr. Emmanuel.
The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, gave an overview of the project and noted that the road’s 12.5 km stretch has side drains and is built in accordance with international standards.
Prof. Ibanga further stated that the road features six outfall drains that remove water from the road, a 50mm asphalt drain course, a 150mm laterite stone foundation course, and a 150mm crush stone base course.
He expressed gratitude to the governor for providing the residents of Ukanafun with a road system that will improve their socioeconomic situation.
In their goodwill messages, Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam in the House of Representatives, Hon. Unyime Idem, former Member of, the House of Representatives and the political leader of Ukanafun, Hon. Eno Akpan, State Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan, and the Chairman of Ukanafun local government area, Mr Godwin Inyeng, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for providing the people of Ukanafun with essential infrastructure which will turn around the economy of the community.
The community has vowed their devotion to the governor and the incoming administration, and Hon Unyime Idem hailed the governor as a leader who has made an indelible mark in the history of Ukanafun. She also said that the road project has given the community a facelift that would boost economic activities.
The Managing Director of AYF Development Company, Mr. Fadi Aboulhosn, thanked Governor Emmanuel for allowing them to be part of history in Ukanafun and thanked the people of Ukanafun for creating a friendly environment during the project execution.
