By Patrick Ekpoh
The Etebi Enwang bridge project in Mbo Local government area of Akwa Ibom State has been abandoned, investigation has revealed.
The bridge, one of the longest in the state was started by former Governor Godswill Akpabio as one of his flaship projects to link oil rich riverine communities of Mbo with their Esit Eket neighbours..
It was gathered that over N19.4B was paid for construction of the road and bridge by the Akpabio administration after several variations from the original cost of N5.4b.
Investigation further revealed that 13 years after it was awarded no more than 40 percent completion has been achieved even as work had stagnated at the site.
Speaking to newsmen on assessment of government projects a worker who pleaed anonymity said “all I can say is that it seems funds is what is delaying work on the bridge. Work is going on but it is very very small compared with what we used to see before.
“This project used to engage about 500 workers but you can see that no body is even on site today although work takes place once in a while.”the source said
ALSO READ: NUPENG, PENGASSAN Accuse NNPC Of Sacking 850 Contract Staff In Warri, Other Refineries
He expressed pessimism that the project would be completed before the end of the present administration with the current pace of work.
Meanwhile, the Chief of staff to the Governor, Ephraim Inyang-eyen has reiterated Emmanuel administration’s committment to completing all onging roads and other life touching projects started by the Governor.
Inyang-eyen who also supervises the ministry of works said while inspecting roads projects on Monday said ” Let me use this instance to make some clarifications since iam still the commissioner of works. Today we went to local government by local government to see the work government has given and the level of their completion
“Apart from the little challenges that may be traced to delay in valuation of compensation to owners of structures in certain areas, with the assurance of of the contractors, some parts or the entire of the roads I have inspected can be asphalted perhaps in the next one or two months, especially for the fact that the drainage and the earthwork had been done”
