NO PART OF THE COUNTRY WILL SUFFER NEGLECT OWING TO POLITICAL CONSIDERDATION SAYS THE FG

NO PART OF THE COUNTRY WILL SUFFER NEGLECT OWING TO POLITICAL CONSIDERDATION SAYS THE FG

President Muhammadu Buhari during the weekend had reaffirmed his promise that no part of the Country will suffer any neglect owing to its geographical location or political consideration.

President Muhammad Buhari represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio made the stated this during the commissioning and handing over of Ibiaku Utit – Uruan Route Erosion Control works at Uruan/Uyo Local Government Areas in Akwa lbom State, executed by the ecological fund office. He said the intervention would bring a huge relief to Nduetong Oku & lkot Usene Communities who had not been able to access their properties due to gully erosion and environmental degradation.

Akpabio pointed out that the Project had set the stage for remedial measures expected to stabilize the socio-economic well being of the communities. He added that the project underscored the FG’s concerted effort and sincerity of purpose in tackling problems across the rural communities. He further stressed that the project would reduce dangers to lives and properties associated with erosion and persistent flooding that was experienced in recent times.

The Minister implored the communities to cherish this laudable project by preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage channels, adding that it was their responsibility to own and maintain the project to ensure its sustainability. He also admonished the youths to prevent contractors from excavating laterite in the area to stem further escalation of flood and erosion in the community.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of Ecological Fund Office Dr. Habiba Lawal represented by the Deputy Director of Soil and Erosion Control department, Engr. Udochi Nwachukwu said the project was one of the several ecological interventions for the first quarter of 2018 which contract was awarded in Aug.2018.

She revealed that the project was initiated through a request by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang on the need to arrest the persistent flooding in the communities.

Dr. Lawal said the timely completion of the project was made possible through the effort of the contractor and consultant and through the close monitoring by the Ecological Fund Office who have worked tirelessly to ensure minimum loss of time ,noting that the commissioning and handing over to the communities was expected to achieve a dual purpose of enabling the them to exercise ownership in order not to allow the resources which the Federal Government had committed into the project to waste.

In his reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang commended President Buhari for honoring his request to reclaimed the communities from flood and erosion menace, he also appreciated the Secretary to the Government, Mr. Boss Mustapha for acknowledging him. Enang advised the communities to take charge and maintain the project.

The Secretary of Abak-Ibiaku, Mr. Ime Effiong, commended the FG effort in tackling ecological challenges across the nation. He expressed profound gratitude to Sen.Itan Enang for rescuing the communities from total collapse. He however pleaded for phase2 of the project to channel the water to the river to avoid the previous work from collapsing. Effiong commended the contractor, consultant and Ecological fund office for their doggedness while executing the project.

The ceremony was attended by the traditional rulers, Eka Eka’s Nusery and Primary School and members of the communities. The guests were entertained by Emedi Cultural group.

L-R: Minister of Niger Delta Sen. God’s will Akabio, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs,Sen. Ita Enang (M) and Engr. Nwachukwu Udochi displaying the certificate .