DONALD ANDOOR
25 August 2004
Lagos — In his recent state visit to Akwa Ibom, President Olusegun Obasanjo commissioned several projects executed by both the state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). One of them was the Ekparakwa-Ekpene Ukpa Erosion and Road Project, which now re-connects the people of southern Akwa Ibom. DONALD ANDOOR reports
The entire area of Ekparakwa to Ekpene Ukpa in Etinan Local Government of Akwa Ibom State and their people, before the advent of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), were completely cut off from the rest of the world. They were cut-off as a result of massive gully erosion that consumed wide expanse of farmlands including the only access bridge at Ndon Utim. The erosion unleashed so much havoc that hundreds of farming communities spanning across three local government areas; Etinan, Mkpat and Oruk Anam were effectively cut-off. The cost of controlling the erosion, stretching over one kilometer was beyond the financial capacity of either the local or state government.
Before the area, from the southern axis of the state was cut-off, it used to be center of commerce and economic activities in the then old Cross River State, from where Akwa Ibom was carved out. There was the biggest and thriving weekly Obo market where products like palm oil, fish, coconut and other items were bought in large quantities by traders who come from Abakaliki, Calabar, Aba, Port Harcourt and other places. But, all that changed after the access road to the area was washed off by erosion. The market became an old shadow of itself. And reminiscent of the rise and fall of the Greek Roman Empire, so was Obo market and hundreds of other farming communities scattered across the 11km road from Ekpene Ukpa-Akparakwa whose economic and socio-political activities declined and grounded to a halt due to their isolation because of the erosion.
As a result of the cries of the people, the then regime of Shehu Shagari awarded the contract for the control of the erosion and the building of another bridge to link the area. The contractor mobilized to site and commenced work, the people chorused 'Hallelujah!' but their joy and praises to God were short-lived. The contractor abandoned the job. With the job abandoned, the erosion was further empowered to do more harm and destruction. It therefore raged on uncontrollably.
When the Obasanjo administration came on board in 1999, the people once again took their plight to him and he promised to do something. And through the Niger Delta Development Commissioner (NDDC), which was set up to ensure the accelerated development of the region, contract for the 11km Ekpene Ukpa - Akparakwa erosion Control and Road Project was awarded to an indigenous contracting firm, Roudo Nigeria Limited. The contractor, unlike that of the one of 1981 did not disappoint. The contractor mobilized to site and remained on site till the work was completed on schedule.
And it was with profound joy, happiness and great expectations of a return to the good old days that the people of the area; young and old, trooped out with drums and in their attires to celebrate with the NDDC and President Obasanjo for the completion and commissioning of the project. The president arrived the project site at 11.08 am penultimate Saturday during his working visit to Akwa Ibom state. After acknowledging pleasantries from traditional rulers and other dignitaries, amidst thunderous beat of drums and songs, he went straight to inspect the project without sitting down. Obasanjo, a civil engineer expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and in his usual elements jokingly made remark to the Managing Director of the company, Chief Tony Chukwu as to whether "you a foreign contractor with Nigerian identity or a true Nigerian?" This question was in his apparent happiness with the quality of the quality of work done. Obasanjo said it was heart warming that an indigenous contractor could execute a job of such magnitude.
To the Chairman of the NDDC, Chief Onyema Ogochukwu and the Managing Director, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, he commended them for living up his expectation by not wasting time but providing succour to the communities in dire need of basic infrastructure that would make life more meaningful. He however charged them to note that such critical projects are to be executed in several other places.
Chairman of the company, Chief Chukwu had earlier told the president that the design and construction of the erosion control work, the road and the bridge was entirely carried out by Nigerian engineers. "From the paper work to practical implementation of the job, there was no input by any foreigner," he said and appealed to the president to encourage and patronize local contractors to grow so as to compete with the multinationals. He promised to complete on schedule the construction of Iko-Atabrikang-Ataka, Opolon - Okoro, Uti - Iwouching Road in Ibeno Local Government Area, which has two bridges of 31, and 600 meters that is also being handled by his company.
Another NDDC project commissioned by the president during his visit to Akwa Ibom was the 10.2 km Iko Akpaden - Okoroette road that connects the major oil-bearing community and headquarters of Eastern Obolo local government area. The road was abandoned for about 21 years in spite of repeated award of contracts for its construction, which were never done.
Chairman of Etinen local government, Mr. Aniedi King summed up the joyful mood of the people of the area when he said "you can see what is happening here today. The joy is so spontaneous, everybody here is so happy because we are celebrating years of hardship." According to him, "the people of Udon Nton and other communities were cut-off and completely incommunicado from the rest of the state but now they have been reintegrated. People will now go wherever they wish and vehicles of various capacities can freely ply this area. This means that economic and other social activities will pick-up." Beaming with smiles and happiness he continued, "This gives us a sense of belonging because we now know we are part and parcel of Nigeria." He summed up.
Paramount ruler of the community, HRH Mfobom, Imeh D. Umoette expressed his peoples sincere appreciation to the NDDC and President Obasanjo for coming to salvage the community from economic extinction. "The market up there used to be the biggest market in this area. Igbo traders from Aba and people from Eket Ikot-Abasi, Iko-Ekpene used to come and sell in the market but since there was no access road, the market was abandoned. You can imagine what has become of this place economically and socially. This road used to be the major road to Port Harcourt and to Uyo and Aba but suddenly we were cut-off. So, we are grateful to Almighty God for touching NDDC and President Obasanjo for coming to our rescue. We are very grateful and this is very important day to us."
And for Ephraim Ekpo, a Port Harcourt-based businessman who travels regularly to his home town in Efa, near Etinan, it is good-bye to the "wilderness journey" he used to make to his village which had for years discouraged his family from accompanying him home. "I use to drive for one and half hours going round in a circle from Ekparakwa through Abak, Uyo, and then Etinan, Ekpene Ukpa before I get to my village in Efa, but now the journey takes only seven minutes because of the beautiful road by NDDC." He wished that leaders would touch the lives of the citizens through projects that would change their lives for the better.
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