The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly rose from its plenary session at the weekend with a resolution commending the executive led by Governor Umo Eno, for terminating a failed contract on Nsit Atai-Okobo-Oron Road project abandoned by successive governments of Chief Godswill Akpabio and his successor, Udom Emmanuel.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the decision to terminate the job, which has been re-awarded to Hensek Engineering Limited, followed consistent outcry by residents including leaders, elders and stakeholders of Nsit Atai, Okobo and Oron local government areas.
In a resolution passed on Friday, the assembly transmitted a message of appreciation to the governor for terminating road contract and re-awarding same to a more competent contractor.
The unanimous decision of the 26-member House, presided over by the speaker, Elder Udeme Otong (Abak), was sequel to a motion on a matter of urgent public importance raised by the Chief Whip of the House, Sir Effiong Johnson, representing, Mbo State Constituency.
The lawmaker had reminded the speaker and members of a motion he had raised few months ago, where he lamented “the current state of the road of which contract was awarded about 12 years ago, but sadly different contractors hired by the government to fix the road were not able to complete the project, a situation that has reduced the road to a death trap.”
The lawmaker and his colleagues, it was learnt, had during debate on the matter called on the government to “terminate the contract and reward the project to a competent contractor, and thereafter, the House had forwarded the resolution on the matter to the governor which necessitated the executive action.