Akwa Ibom State Government don reveal say dem spend over N208.16 billion on roads and other infrastructural projects since Governor Umo Eno take over office on May 29, 2023. The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, make dis revelation during a press briefing in Uyo, the state capital, on Sunday.
Ibanga explain say out of the total sum, N47.93 billion go into 36 projects wey dem inherit from the Finance and General Purpose Committee, while N4.04 billion go into emergency intervention projects wey dem also inherit from the previous administration, making the total amount spent on inherited projects to be N51.96 billion.
Additionally, the state government invest N151.96 billion in 61 projects under the ARISE Agenda, which be key initiatives of Governor Eno’s administration. “Governor Umo Eno has so far inject N47.93 billion into 36 inherited FGPC projects, and N4.04 billion on 51 emergency intervention projects. In total, N51.96 billion has been spent in this category,” Ibanga say.
He further note that the ARISE Agenda projects, initiated by the current administration, include 61 projects, some of which have been completed and commissioned, while others are at various stages of completion. “N151.66 billion has been released to finance 50 of the FGPC ARISE Agenda projects, while N4.54 billion has been spent on 11 emergency intervention ARISE projects. In total, N156.20 billion has been spent on the ARISE Agenda projects,” the commissioner add.
According to Ibanga, as of October 18, 2024, the state had spent a cumulative sum of N208.16 billion on both inherited and newly initiated projects. Completed projects under the ARISE initiative include the Akpan Andem Market project, the Amphitheatre at the Christmas Village Arena, the Atiku Abubakar underground tunnel, and the Goretti Secondary School road, among others.
Speaking on road infrastructure, Ibanga provide an update on the Tabernacle Road project, stating that significant progress had been made in excavation work, which, according to civil engineers, would need to reach a depth of 11 meters. However, he lament that work had slowed due to persistent rainfall in the state.
