IN THE NEWS: IBOM DEEP SEA PORT IS A DEFINING ECONOMIC BOOSTER FOR AK AND BEYOND
…..INFO BOSS, CHARLES UDOH
…………The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh has said, Ibom Deep Sea Port is a defining economic booster for Akwa Ibom state and indeed the south/south region of Nigeria therefore serious planning must be given to roads and facilities designed for that part of the state where the sea port is located.
Charles Udoh who spoke Live on two different Radio programmes at two different stations over the weekend, namely Comfort Radio 95.1 FM and AKBC Radio 90.5 FM, reiterated that, having assumed the position of a major economic game changer in Akwa Ibom state and indeed Nigeria, special consideration must be given to the construction of roads leading to the seaport adding that the state government has recently flagged-off the construction of an eight-lane super highway for the seaport.
Reacting to speculations that the government denied NDDC the opportunity to partner in construction of roads in the state, the Information Boss emphasized that, government has clear plans and designs for the kind of roads that are needed to be constructed across the state with the envisaged flow of traffic based on the increase of investments coming into the state and will therefore not allow any development partner like NDDC to build bush tracks where super highways were planned for.
He stated that, Ikot Abasi/ Mbo-axis and its coastal region for instance are earmarked as the industrial city of the state with an anticipated heavy vehicular and human traffic in the area within the shortest possible time, therefore the quality of roads would invariably determine the success of activities within the area as heavy goods and products are expected to flow around the industrial region.
On the coming-on board of new management for Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort as well as a new hospital Administrator for Ibom Specialist hospital, the Commissioner said, the former management of the two important facilities had to be disengaged as their ineptitude in the management of the facilities which resulted in poor turn-over from government investments in both the Five-star hotel and in the tertiary health institution.
While at the debut of “Update Akwa Ibom” radio programme on AKBC 90.5FM, the Information Boss reiterated that, security is paramount in the schemes of things of government as all investments and indeed industrialization-drive of the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration can only thrive best in a conducive and secured environment.
Maintaining that, the experts and foreigners who bring investments into the state would not have done so if Akwa Ibom was not safe to accommodate their personnel and investments, Udoh said, government is working with security agencies to ensure that security is maintained in the state especially in parts where there are spates of insecurity.
Responding to a citizen’s question from the Udomcares Citizen Centre, the Commissioner for Information said, government is committed to restoring peace and safety in Etim Ekpo, Ibesikpo and all other areas experiencing insecurity, stating that, it was as a measure towards stemming the tide of insecurity in Etim Ekpo that Governor Udom Emmanuel organized a town hall meeting with stakeholders from Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun to broker peace and safety as well as approved restrictions of movement and use of motor cycles in Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun and other security flash points of the state within the hours of 6pm to 7am in the morning.
Udoh added that, the proscription of about 33 cult groups in the state by Governor Emmanuel was an added advantage to restoring security in the state and urged all members of the public with useful information and meaningful contributions towards the development of the state to send such comments and views to the government by sms or whatsapp through the Citizen Centre within the hours of 9am to 4pm on Mondays to Fridays on phone number 09076173782 or through email to citizen@akwaibomstate.gov.ng or even
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