Akwa Ibom Releases ₦123.5 billion For Road Projects

By Patrick Titus, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Government has released the sum of ₦123.5 billion for the construction of over 167 kilometres ongoing road projects in the state.

This follows the State Executive Council’s approval of new road projects and the continuation of ongoing ones.

Commissioner for Information in the State, Mr. Aniekan Umanah in a statement- in Uyo stated that, the money would cover the payment of mobilisation fees, right-of-way compensation, and the settlement of due Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) to contractors handling various road projects in the State.

The roads, Umanah has mentioned include the Ikwe–Odio Road; the six-lane dualisation of Nnung Udoe–Afaha Offiong–Afaha Nsit with a rotary intersection; the dualisation of Afaha Offiong–Ikot Imoh–Itreto; and the reconstruction of the Ikot Akpaden–Okorete–Iko Road with two mini bridges in Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas, among others.

He explained, saying, “₦69 billion is earmarked for newly awarded projects, while ₦54.5 billion has been released to service outstanding IPCs and additional works on existing projects.

“The essence of this payment is to encourage contractors handling the various projects to take full advantage of the construction season and deploy all necessary resources to ensure the timely completion of the projects within the agreed timeframe. It further underscores the Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to delivering on the infrastructure expansion mantra of the ARISE Agenda”