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₦879.22bn spent on infrastructure under Umo Eno administration
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234 projects comprising roads, bridges, erosion control and electrification undertaken
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1,478.83km of roads delivered through direct and counterpart-funded projects
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Solar streetlights cut diesel consumption from 150,000 litres to below 32,000 litres monthly
September 17, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Government has spent a total of ₦879.22 billion on road and other infrastructure projects since the inception of the administration of Governor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, has disclosed.
Ibanga made the disclosure on Thursday during an inter-ministerial briefing at the Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, where he gave an account of the ministry’s activities and projects under the current administration.
According to him, the ministry has undertaken a total of 234 projects, covering road construction, bridges, erosion control, electrification and other interventions, while about 1,478.83 kilometres of roads have been delivered through direct government projects and counterpart-funded schemes.
The Commissioner said the figure included 1,156 kilometres of roads executed directly, as well as 322.83 kilometres delivered through counterpart funding arrangements, adding that the ministry had maintained a comprehensive database showing the sources and expenditure on the projects.
He explained that of the 234 projects, 105 were inherited projects from previous administrations, comprising 47 projects funded through counterpart arrangements, including 14 bridges, and 51 direct projects, while seven others were erosion-control, electrification and related intervention projects.
Ibanga said 57 of the inherited projects had been completed, while 15 had been commissioned by the present administration, stressing that the government had continued to fund and complete viable projects inherited from its predecessors.
He said the current administration had also initiated 129 projects, comprising 114 road projects, including 67 counterpart-funded projects and 47 direct projects, while 26 bridges and 15 erosion-control, electrification and other intervention projects formed part of the new infrastructure programme.
Of the newly initiated projects, he said 26 had been completed and 20 commissioned, with several others at various stages of completion.
Giving a breakdown of expenditure, Ibanga said ₦615.65 billion had been spent on projects initiated by the present administration under the ministry’s regular programme, while ₦131.86 billion had gone into emergency projects.
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A further ₦131.71 billion had been spent on inherited projects, bringing the total expenditure to ₦879.22 billion.
The commissioner also disclosed that the ministry had identified 133 failed or distressed portions of roads requiring intervention, including overlaying and patching works, as part of efforts to improve road safety and maintain existing infrastructure across the state.
He said the government had also embarked on a deliberate transition from diesel-powered streetlights to solar-powered systems, with 6,386 solar streetlights installed out of 6,441 approved units under Phases One and Two.
According to him, the transition has significantly reduced government expenditure on diesel, noting that monthly consumption had dropped from about 150,000 litres to less than 32,000 litres.
Ibanga said the reduction represented substantial savings for the state, with monthly diesel expenditure previously estimated at ₦300 million, based on the prevailing diesel price, while current expenditure had fallen to about ₦43 million.
He added that the ministry was working to extend the solar streetlight programme to more parts of the state while continuing to maintain streetlights and traffic lights.
The Commissioner said the administration had also adopted a deliberate policy of ensuring that every local government area benefited from road infrastructure, with a minimum target of 10 kilometres of roads per local government area.
He explained that the road projects were based on needs assessments across the local government areas and were intended to open up rural communities, improve connectivity and stimulate economic activities.
Ibanga further said the road projects had reduced travel time, opened alternative routes and improved access to previously isolated communities, while also creating employment opportunities through direct and informal-sector activities associated with construction projects.
He said the infrastructure drive was also linked to the state’s ambition of strengthening tourism and positioning Akwa Ibom as a destination within Nigeria and beyond.
Speaking exclusively on the impact of the infrastructure programme, Ibanga said the administration’s approach was designed not merely to construct roads but to use infrastructure to connect communities, stimulate economic activities and improve the quality of life of residents.
“We are deliberately opening up the rural areas for economic activities.
“Through these road and other infrastructure projects, we are creating alternative routes, reducing travel time, improving connectivity and creating employment opportunities for our people,” the commissioner said.
He added that the ministry would continue to monitor and evaluate government projects to ensure that the state obtained value for money spent on infrastructure.
