Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
By Nseobong Umoidem
Both residents and those doing business along the popular and populous Itu Road adjacent to the University of Uyo town campus are still counting their blessings as Akwa Ibom State Roads and other Infrastructures Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA) has intervened on the once deplorable, impassable road which is now an expressway for motorists and pedestrians.
When Board Members of the road maintenance agency embarked on inspection of the newly rehabilitated Road recently, residents and business owners in the area recounted the ugly experiences usually faced by them before the intervention by AKROIMA.
A resident, Mr. Idongesit Udo appreciated AKROIMA for the road rehabilitation has given the inhabitants of the area a sense of belonging and a great relief and prayed God to bless the government for making the road accessible to residents. According to Dr. Ini-Ifiok Idiok who owns a shop along Itu Road, “we are grateful to His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel for making the road rehabilitation a reality. We had almost been in a deep ‘shit’ until he came to our rescue; and today we are having Itu road in a very nice condition, I want to say “thank you” His Excellency. I also want to acknowledge the efficiency of AKROIMA; they actually did a good job by working night and day to ensure a speedy completion of the job.”
Dr. Ini-Ifiok however appealed to AKROIMA to provide speed bumps on the road in order to prevent accidents resulting from over-speeding by excited motorists who ply the road on a daily basis.
Speaking while inspecting the newly rehabilitated Itu Road, a Member of the AKROIMA Board, Mr. Uduot Jack said that before the intervention by AKROIMA, the road was impassable, as economic activities in the area remained on a constantly stagnant level. He expressed gratitude Governor Udom Emmanuel for coming to the rescue on the road. Mr. Jack explained that AKROIMA was set to also tackle the flooded area of Urua Ekpa road and provide a good drainage system to check flood in the area. He quickly responded and promised to provide speed bumps on the road as requested by one of the road users.
Members of the AKROIMA Board also inspected the Etinan – Uyo road which also wears a new look as a result of the intervention by the Road Maintenance Agency. Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Sylvanus Udoh expressed satisfaction at the quality of work done by the engineers. He appreciated Governor Emmanuel for his generosity in providing roads to communities within the state.
His words: “It has been the process of overlaying of the whole road that had potholes all over. With the Governor’s magnanimity on this road, he (the Governor) decided to make the road motorable so that people could enjoy smooth ride on the road while construction is ongoing on the main Uyo-Etinan road which contracted has been awarded already.” Mr. Udoh expressed hope that with the road intervention and rehabilitation, motorists would have easy ride on the road with reduced cases of accidents.
