August 26, (THEWILL) – A fast spreading gully erosion along Nung Udoe-Eket Road within the Akwa Ibom State capital territory has received attention from the Akwa Ibom State Government to forestall the danger it poses to houses along its path.
Nigerpet Structures, a construction company specialising in erosion control, has been mobilised to carry out immediate intervention to save residents and motorists plying the road from further danger.
The State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga, who visited the site for an on-the -spot assessment on Wednesday, said the prompt response was to protect the major road from total collapse.
The Commissioner, who reported that many parts of the state equally faced threats from erosion, intensified by the rainy season, disclosed that the state government has intervened in no fewer than 100 roads within the last few weeks.
Ibanga, who is the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University, said the value placed on the lives of humans living around erosion prone areas would not permit the state government to wait for ecological funds before moving into areas with urgent need.
“Since Akwa Ibom people are the beneficiaries, the government has to take proactive steps to ensure that the road is done early to give access to the people , otherwise the affected communities would be cut off. That is why we usually have contingency provisions in the budget so that when things like these come up, we can handle them,” he said
The Project Manager of NigerPet Structures, Engr Eric Ese, confirmed that the project would be completed within three weeks.
“We hope to complete this work within three weeks all things being equal,” he said
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the residents of the affected buildings, Sophia Akpan expressed hopes that with the Commissioner’s visit and his team mobilised to site, relief would come the way of affected citizens.
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