Akpabio flags off dualisation of Eket-Etinan highway

[Mirror]

•Assembly clears four commissioners and special adviser Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, has formally flagged off the dualisation of the 75-kilometre federal Eket- Etinan highway that is to gulp N26 billion.

The dualised highway with parking lots and three bridges is to be constructed by CCECC Nigeria Limited and would be completed in three years.

Akpabio, who performed the flag-off ceremony on Wednesday at Okon village in Eket Local Government Area said: "I am not starting a job to abandon it; I am starting a job to be completed by 2015.

"I have directed that the construction should start from three locations: One from Eket, another from the middle while the third leg should start from Etinan town. We have three bridges along this road and the company will make sure that, as much as possible, we have street lights all over."

The governor said the road would be completed within the tenure of his administration, urging the people of the area to cooperate with the construction firm so that they can deliver the job within the stipulated time.

Commissioner for Works, Mr. Don Etim, said the road, when completed, would reduce traveling time, enhance traffic decongestion, eliminate road fatality and promote economic activities.

Etim said the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works would supervise and monitor the project to ensure that it is done according to specification – using the best materials, adding that he had no doubt in the competence of the contractor.

At the inauguration of urban roads in Etinan – Nsit Street, Stadium Road, Iman Street and Nkana Road – about 11.7 kilometres, Governor Akpabio said; "It is a great thing that we are now leaving Uyo, the capital city to begin to touch local government areas.

Meanwhile, Governor Akpabio yesterday swore in10 new permanent secretaries at the new Governor's Office, Uyo, even as he tasked the state Civil Service Commission to evenly recruit officers into the service to avoid overloading some local government areas with staff to the detriment of others.

The governor decried a situation where some local government areas in the state would have more than 10 qualified persons to be appointed as permanent secretaries while others do not have even one qualified personnel.

In another development, the state House of Assembly has confirmed five nominees for the position of commissioners and special advisers into the state executive council.

National Mirror