Akwa Ibom State government has expressed concern over emergency erection of illegal structures on the proposed new roads earmarked for construction from 2025.
Therefore, Governor Umo Eno has warned the perpetrators that “anyone who builds illegal structures along roads designated for construction and expansion will likely suffer monumental losses as the government will not be driven by sentiments to part with public funds as compensation.”
Speaking through his senior special assistant (SSA) on Research and Documentation, Dr Essien Ndueso, the governor assured that his administration was “very passionate about building and expanding infrastructure, especially to open up rural communities,” warning that he would not patronise any attempts to cook up illegal structures on the projects’ corridors with a view to extorting funds from government.
He noted that illegal structures springing up along the Afaha Offiong in Nsit Ibom local government area and Itreto, in Nsit Ubium LGA road projects with several mushroom buildings would be cleared as “government will not condone antics meant to milk it for pseudo-projects.
“Illegal structures built along the right of way will be demolished without hesitation to pave the way for road projects.
“The government has proposed a dual carriage way for Nung Udoe – Afaha Nsit road to open up Ibesikpo and Nsit Ibom LGAs, and has also announced another dualisation for Afaha Offiong – Itreto road for the agrarian communities within Nsit Ibom through Nsit Ubium.
“That is the axis you have the Ibom Model Farm. And that is serious development springing up in those areas. As indigenes and primary beneficiaries, it is expedient for the indigenes to welcome this initiative with open arms rather than attempting to frustrate government efforts with shambolic demands”, he stressed.
The governor, therefore, cautioned that such hasty constructions would not derail his administration’s agenda to implement meaningful projects for the benefit of Akwa Ibom residents.
“Once the bulldozers move in to establish the right of way, no amount of wailings, sentiments or traditional injunctions will prevail against the humming sound of the marauding machines,” he added.
