By Torobong Ekpo
The member representing Esit Eket/ Ibeno in the sixth assembly, Rt. Hon. Usoroh Akpanusoh, has appealed to Mobil Producing Company, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Government as well as the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC), to proffer solution to the gully erosion menace in Ekpene Obo, Ikpa and Uquo in Esit Eket Local Government area, noting that, if adequate measures are not well taken, there will be no road to the council secretariat, in a jiffy.
Akpanusoh, who briefed newsmen, shortly after his first constituency briefing in Esit Eket, said that, the natural disaster in the area has wantonly metamorphosed into loss of lives and properties.
He however commended the state governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for inspecting Esit-Eket/ Ibeno road, as well as mandating the road contractor to resume work at the site, adding that, members of his constituent were elated over the kind gesture.
He specifically appealed to Mobil to increase its counterpart funding on the road, noting that, the route is the only visible access road to the terminal.
“The high point of the constituency briefing we had was the inspection of gully erosion sites. We inspected the one at Ekpene Obo, which menace is nearly cutting-off the Esit Eket Local Government Area into two. Very soon, if prompt and adequate measures are not well taken care of, there will be no road to the local government secretariat. Thus, I urged the State Government, NDDC, Mobil to please remedy the situation for us.
“About five people have died as a result of the menace in Ikpa, if you go to Uquo, behind the local Government Area secretariat; there is a very big gully there, already, people’s houses are on the fence of the gully, the hazard has consumed babies, valuable properties. I called on NEMA to send relief materials to the victims of this menace, and also plead with the government to see how they can remedy the situation.
“We thank the governor for the inspection of Eket-Ibeno road, and for his benevolence in financially advancing the contractor to resume work immediately at the site. I appeal to Mobil to reciprocate the government gesture by increasing its own counterpart funding on Eket-Ibeno road, because the road is purely an access road to the terminal where oil exploration is done.
“If you have a project of 50 billion naira, and Mobil is coming up with only, 8Billion naira, just imagine the gab! Atleast, they ought to have taken half of the project bill on that road, because that is the only visible access road to the terminal.
“The other road is from Edor to Esit Eket, obviously, the road is dilapidating, due to daily patronage by heavy truck, I want to appeal to Mobil to find measures of remedying the situation before it gets worst’ The legislator pleaded.
He also urged the state government to ensure that abandon projects such as Etebi-Enwang road, Akwa Palm Industry and other projects were revived.
While pledging the readiness of his constituent to brief the Deputy Governor, who heads NEMA in the state, the Chairman Finance and appropriation Committee in the sixth assembly, sympathizes with the governor for the natural disaster prevalent in the society despite poor funding.
“I sympathize with the governor of the state, because he has come to do whole lots of things in the state despite the poor funding. Unfortunately all these natural disasters are prevalent during his tenure as the governor, I am optimistic that, he will use his wealth of knowledge to proffer lasting solution’ He affirmed.
The erudite legislator commended the state governor, for appointing Barr. Enobong Etteh as Secretary in the constituted Ibaka Seaport Technical Committee. He assured the governor and the people of the state, that the legal luminary, being a man of proven integrity will justify the confidence repose on him.
He noted that, his constituency briefing will be held quarterly, and urged youths to conduct themselves properly so as to enable development to thrive in the area.
Our Reporter gathers that, RT. Hon. Usoroh Akpanusoh is a successor to the longest serving Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Legislator, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Ikpong Etteh, who served his constituent for three terms
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