Akwa Ibom gov unveils 5.5km road, erosion control projects
September 9, 2026 9:52 pm
By Emem Julius
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has commissioned a 5.5-kilometre Udo Inwang internal roads and erosion control project in Uyo, as part of activities marking the 39th anniversary of the state.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who spoke at the ceremony on Wednesday in Uyo, said each of the 31 local government areas of the state could boast of at least one road project, underscoring the administration’s commitment to spreading infrastructure development across the state.
The governor said the latest road intervention comprises 11 adjoining roads within the Udo Inwang axis and is designed to improve accessibility, address the area’s longstanding erosion challenge and strengthen connectivity to major parts of Uyo metropolis, including the nearby Arise Palm Resort.
He said, “This project is another demonstration of our administration’s commitment to implementing projects that directly impact the lives of the people. The Udo Inwang project is the ninth project being commissioned as part of activities marking the state’s 39th anniversary.”
The Governor said the administration’s interventions extended beyond physical infrastructure to programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of different categories of residents across the state.
He listed empowerment initiatives for traders, farmers, women and youths among the programmes implemented by the government, noting that the interventions were designed to create opportunities and improve the economic well-being of the people.
The governor also highlighted the administration’s investment in youth development, noting that several young people had been trained and empowered through various government programmes.
According to him, the Udo Inwang project further demonstrated the government’s commitment to inclusive development and served as a reassurance to residents, particularly the youths, that their welfare remained a priority.
Eno, however, called on residents and communities to protect government infrastructure and ensure that completed projects were not abused. He specifically cautioned residents against dumping refuse in drainage channels, warning that such practices could undermine efforts to control flooding and erosion.
He noted that the heavy rainfall experienced across the state had contributed to flooding in some areas and urged residents to make proper use of designated waste disposal points. He warned that persons caught dumping refuse in drainage channels would be arrested and handed over to the relevant authorities.
The Governor urged communities across the state to take ownership of government projects, stressing that the protection and maintenance of public infrastructure was a collective responsibility.
Giving an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Works, Professor Eno Ibanga, explained that the intervention was largely necessitated by the severe erosion menace that had threatened lives, homes and property along the axis.
Prof. Ibanga recalled that when Governor Eno assumed office, the erosion problem along Udo Inwang Road had become critical, with the ravine consuming several houses, including the residence of the Village Head of Ewet Offot.
He said the Governor subsequently directed the Ministry of Works to tackle the challenge decisively, noting that the intervention eventually gave birth to the development of Arise Palm Resort and the restoration of the surrounding road network.
“This is a very interesting project. When His Excellency assumed office as Governor, we were faced with a serious erosion problem along Udo Inwang Road, which had consumed several houses, including the residence of the Village Head of Ewet.
“His Excellency directed that the erosion problem be addressed decisively. The intervention to solve that challenge ultimately gave birth to the Arise Palm Resort.”
According to the Commissioner, restoring Udo Inwang Road also required the government to address other failed roads within the environment, resulting in the construction of the 11 roads that make up the 5.5-kilometre project.
“These 5.5 kilometres are made up of 11 roads constructed in the whole of this environment, so that when you enter anywhere now, you have free access to the main arteries of this city,” he said.
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