GOV ENO APPROVES EXPANSION OF EROSION CONTROL PROJECT TO SALVAGE NCS FACILITY IN UYO

 

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has approved the expansion of the scope of work at the ongoing Uyo-Ewet gully erosion control and beautification project to rescue the Nigerian Correctional Service facility from collapse.

The Governor gave the consent during an unscheduled inspection of the project at the Dominic Utuk Avenue axis of the site.

He commended the project contractor for opening up the area to expose the devastating erosion menace behind the Correctional Service facility and assured that the State government will intervene to prevent the imminent collapse of the facility. 

Governor Eno stated that his administration remains committed to maintaining a healthy relationship with the President Tinubu led- federal government, to foster development and ensure that the people of the State benefit optimally from the common wealth of the nation.

"That's why I keep saying to people, you can't fight the Federal Government. You can only partner with them. As you can see, this is a Federal Prison, but we can't just allow this happen. We know the effect; God forbid if this area collapses, there'll be jail break and that will cause us problems," he stated.

He commended the commitment and giant strides recorded by the contractor, especially for identifying hazards in the process of execution of the project, and for taking the initiative to solve problems beyond the original scope of the job.

The State Chief Executive expressed hope that the project upon completion will serve the interest of the people of the state. 

"I decided to stop by for an unannounced visit. That's how you check some things and know if your contractors are serious. So, I thank this contractor so much. For me, all of these discoveries, we thought it was just this area, but we thank him. He is not just concentrating on the scope, he has gone beyond the scope and I want to thank him.

"Honestly, I never knew the devastation was this much. All of this was covered by bush, and you won't even know the extent. This is literally taking down the walls of the prison. That's the tower and it is near collapse. If we don't intervene on time, you will wake up one morning and it's gone," the governor added.

He reaffirmed his intention for the project to be beyond just reclamation of the gully menace to creating a tourism site and hoped that it will be delivered in record time. 

"This is not just a reclamation, it has become a tourism site. He told me he will deliver this in December for us to use. You don't know the amount of joy I have that we are beginning to create a message out of this mess. That's a whole joy for me," he said.

Managing Director of the contracting firm, Bulletin Construction Company, Chief Faysal Harb, thanked the governor for his approvals and kind words, as he restated his company's commitment to delivering the job by December, in line with the governor's wish.