By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned and handed over the Ibiaku Utit – Uruan Route Erosion control works at Uruan/Uyo Local Government Areas in Akwa lbom State.
The Project was executed by the Ecological Fund Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The President represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio promised in his speech that no part of the Country will suffer any neglect owing to its geographical location or political consideration.
He stated that the intervention would bring a huge relief to Nduetong Oku & lkot Usene Communities who had not been able to access their properties due to gully erosion and environmental degradation.
Buhari pointed out that the Project will improve the socio-economic well being of people in the affected communities.
He added that the project underscored the FG’s concerted effort and sincerity of purpose in tackling problems across the rural communities.
He further stressed that the project would reduce dangers to lives and properties associated with erosion and persistent flooding experienced in recent times.
He urged the communities to cherish project by preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage channels, adding that it was their responsibility to own and maintain the project to ensure its sustainability.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Fund Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal represented by the Deputy Director of Soil and Erosion Control, Engr Udochi Nwachukwu said the project was one of the several ecological intervention projects for the first quarter of 2018 awarded in August 2018.
She revealed that the project was initiated through a request by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang.
Dr. Lawal said the timely completion of the project was made possible through the effort of the contractor and consultant and through the close monitoring of the Ecological Fund Office who have worked tirelessly to ensure minimum loss of time, noting that the commissioning and handing over to the community was expected to achieve a dual purpose of enabling the host community to exercise ownership in order not to allow the resources which the Federal Government had committed into the project to waste.
In his speech at the ocassion, Sen. Enang appreciated President Buhari for honoring his request to reclaim the communities from flood and erosion menace.
