A'Ibom: Uyo Residents Applaud Gov Eno For Swift Intervention On Atiku Abubakar Road Flooding
From Unyime BASSEY
Obviously disturbed by the excruciating experience of residents, motorists and business owners along Atiku Abubakar Way in Uyo who battle with flood after heavy rainfalls, the Akwa Ibom State Government has announced a quick intervention plan.
The Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) Obong Prince Ikim, who broke the good news on Saturday while visiting the Atiku Abubakar Way flood area during this month's environmental sanitation exercise, said, remedial work would start immediately to end the devastation caused by the flood.
Flanked by the Chairman, House Committee on Environment and member representing Okobo State Constituency, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly; Hon. Bassey Pius Bassey and other members, board of AKSEPWMA, Obong Ikim stressed that the lasting solution to the flood menace on Atiku Abubakar Way was in line with the ARISE Agenda of Pastor Umo Eno, who is passionate about clean and safe environment where citizens and residents can live happily and do their businesses.
"When this road was constructed, they did not anticipate the high volume of water that we are seeing now. So, what we will do is that, since the State Government in conjunction with the NEWMAP had built a bigger underground drainage on IBB Way, we will connect Atiku Way drainage to that of the State Secretariat; through IBB.
"His Excellency the Governor (Pastor Umo Eno) regrets the inconveniences this flood has caused the residents, motorists and business owners and to match words with action, we will start remedial work in terms of desilting," Ikim stated.
However, to effectively contain flooding, the AKSEPWMA boss appealed to residents to stop dumping of refuse in unauthorised places, clogging of drains with silt, erecting or building structures within and around drainage right of ways.
Meanwhile, some residents of Atiku Road have applauded the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for the political will to put an end to their years of agony and anguish caused by the flood menace.
Mr. Udokang Itoro, a resident and business owner who spoke on behalf of many others, said the area has been flooded for more than two decades, expressed gratitude to the State Government for the planned flood intervention plan.
His words: "This water has been here for over two decades and to the glory of God, we are so happy to see Government officials coming to salvage this situation for us and I pray God to bless the Governor in Jesus name.
"We have tried under individual and community efforts for years, but we could not make any headway. Our businesses are affected and as it is now, every business is shutdown, but I trust God and I trust the Government of the day that at the end, we will celebrate this very government on this matter."
On his part, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Environment; Hon. Bassey Pius Bassey, appreciated the zeal and passion of AKSEPWMA to make Akwa Ibom the cleanest State in the Country.
The lawmaker who said the eight Assembly was poised to making laws that would better the lots of all Akwa Ibomites and residents, assured of the readiness of the Legislature to collaborate the Executive to dole out dividends of democracy as enshrined in the Governor's ARISE agenda.
Meanwhile, this month's environmental clean-up exercise witnessed turnout as most residents of the State participated in the exercise.
Our reporters who inspected the exercise across the Uyo metropolis reported that households were cleaned by their occupants while the wastes scooped from gutters by evacuators of AKSEPWMA were carted away by trucks provided by the Agency.
Also, refuse dumped around the city were cleared by officials of the State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency.
