Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has assured the people of Ibeno Local Government of Akwa Ibom State that work on the second phase of Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuoachang Road, an extension from the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge, will be accelerated to ensure its completion.
Speaking during the inspection of the road and bridge project, Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, accompanied by the Executive Director (Projects), Sir Victor Antai and other directors said it was necessary to assess the status of the project, which he noted, had suffered setback.
Ogbuku said the first phase, a 6km road and 600-metre bridge across Qua Iboe River, had been completed and would be inaugurated soon.
He assured Ibeno people that the NDDC would give them the special attention they deserved as a major contributor to the oil wealth of the country.
He said: “This project is strategic and important to NDDC, considering that Ibeno is the operational base of ExxonMobil, which is the second largest producer of crude oil in Nigeria after Shell.
“We recognise the importance of Eket and Ibeno local governments to the Federal Government, especially as they constitute the major oil-producing hub of the state.”
Ogbuku appealed to the youth in Ibeno to be peaceful and cooperate with the contractor handling the project, to ensure the job was completed without delay.
The MD, in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, said: We have to support one another to ensure successful completion of the project”
He said the completed Ibeno Bridge was not inaugurated because NDDC wanted to see that the road connected the intended inland communities.
The paramount ruler of Ibeno, Dr. Effiong Achianga, appealed to the NDDC to complete its projects in the area for the benefit of the oil-producing communities.
The traditional ruler, represented by the village head of Iwuoachang Community, Chief Daniel Abia, praised NDDC for completing Ibeno Bridge and called for more efforts to complete the second phase of the project.
He said: “NDDC has made it possible for us to interact with our kith and kin in the adjoining communities. That was not possible in the past because the river stood between us.”
The former Chairman of Ibeno Local Government, Chief Williams Mkpa, said the people were delighted that work would resume on the second phase of the Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuoachang Road.
He said the aim would be to connect communities in two local governments in Akwa Ibom State that had been separated by Qua Iboe River.
“Our hope is that the road and the bridge will connect Iko, Rikang, Akata, Opolom, Ikot-Enwang, Okoroutip and Iwoachang communities with about 24 others. If this happens, it would have linked all the communities to modernity, while enhancing our socio-economic fortunes,” he said.
