How Umo Eno is making his predecessors proud 

Emmanuel Nicholas

Concerns arose among many individuals regarding potential conflicts of interest when Pastor Umo Eno assumed the position of Governor of Akwa Ibom State after his predecessor, His Excellency Deacon Udom Emmanuel exited office.

Numerous business owners were anxious about the future of their investments, uncertain if their projects would continue, be halted, or be reassigned to different contractors.

Communities benefiting from these projects feared that the expected development might be abandoned, jeopardizing their hopes for improved road infrastructure.

This situation was notably complex given the patterns observed in other Nigerian states, where incoming leaders often clash with their predecessors, leading to the abandonment or destruction of projects initiated by the previous administration as a show of political dominance and power.

Governor Umo Bassey Eno has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and established himself as a commendable leader known for his integrity and incorruptibility.

His primary focus is on propelling the development of Akwa Ibom State to impressive levels, rather than engaging in political theatrics to showcase his authority and diminish the achievements of the previous administrations.
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Several political advisers also attempted to create discord by advising Governor Umo Eno to prioritize his projects over those he inherited from his predecessors.

They aimed to convince him that the strategy to complete his predecessors’s projects would not significantly benefit his administration’s scorecards or political future.

These advisers suggested that if those projects were highlighted by the public, they would be credited to Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s achievements.

Governor Umo Eno being a man who is disciplined and is determined to change the landscape of the State, snubbed those ills advisers and stayed on the path of development.

Governor Umo Eno is renowned for his discipline and unwavering commitment to revolutionizing the State. He is dedicated to confronting unrefined opposition to progress and avoids getting involved in trivial issues.

Pastor Umo Eno understands that governance is a continuous process, and the progress of a State depends on the continuity of projects across administrations for economic prudence.

Abandoning projects initiated for the public good and the advancement of Akwa Ibom State would squander resources and taxpayer money. Therefore, it is counterproductive to halt such initiatives.

Governor Umo Bassey Eno has allocated a total of approximately 180 billion Naira in a bid to complete all ongoing road projects inherited from the previous administration,

For the direct labour and intervention projects, Governor Umo Bassey Eno inherited road projects covering a total of 34.29 kilometers.

The projects are, 1.5km David Lawrence/Emmanuel Enoidem Avenue, Uyo; construction of 1.5Km Obio Etoi road by Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo/Nsit Ibom; construction of 2.5Km Regina Coeli East-West Road, Ikot Abasi L.G.A; construction of 3.7 Km Ekpri Nsukara Road, Uyo;  construction of 2.3Km Dual carriageway and single carriage entrance road to Military Cantonment, Nsit Ibom L.G.A; construction of 0.46km Edem Utin Street, Abak L.G.A; construction of 0.43km Tony Tommy Street; construction 0.6km Ime Bishop Okon Street; construction of 2.1km High Tension Lane, Okpon Asip Street, Uyo L.G.A; construction of 2.3km Udo Ebong Street, Ekit ltam ll, Itu Local Government Area; construction of 1.1km Barr.Lawrence Udosen Avenue in Shelter Afrique, Uyo L.G.A; and construction of Internal Roads (Obot Ndon-Ekom Iman Road)at lkot Oku lkono flyover environs, Uyo L.G.A.

Also, construction of 1km Zonal Model School Road and 0.3km, Oruk Anam L.G.A, construction of 2.1km Internal Road (main Access in Obong University, Etim Ekpo L.G.A, construction of 1.3km Agric Faculty Road Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam L.G.A;  construction of Pastor Umoren Avenue, Shelter Afrique, Uyo L.G.A; construction of 0.69km Gen.Koko Essien Avenue,Shelter Afrique,Uyo L.G.A; construction of Access Road to Afe Nkuku Anang Hall,Uyo L.G.A; construction of Edem Urua Street in ltiam, Uyo L.G.A and construction of Sylvanus Okon Extension, Uyo L.G.A.

As well as, Emergency Intervention/Flood Control at Shelter Afrique Entrance, Uyo L.G.A; construction of Paul Ekpo Crescent in Shelter Afrique in Uyo, Uyo L.G.A; construction of 1.5km High Tension Road; construction of Internal Roads (lkot Ntuen, Nsit and Ediene lkot Obio Imo Road; construction of lkot Akpanya-Asuna Road; construction of 3.09km Ikot Essien -Ikot Uyo Road in Nsit Atai L.G.A; construction Road linking lkotakpabin internal road, Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A; construction of Mbikpong lkot Edim-Afaha lkot Osom-Ikot Akpaedu Road,Ibesikpo Asutan and Emergency-Intervention, Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A.

The other projects are, construction of lkot Obio Eka Road, Etinan LGA; construction of Edem Udo Street, Eket (1.0km); construction of Access Road to Heritage Poly, Eket (0.5km), construction of lkot Udota -Ikot Afaha Road (2.0km), Eket LGA; construction of 0.71km Esin Ufot Edoho Street in Eket LGA; construction of Fishing Terminal Junction to Esuk Utte Beach, Odu Ebughu, Mbo LGA; construction of 1.38km Stadium road in Abat, Onna L.G.A; construction of Flood Control Facilities in the Premises of Onna Local Government Secretariat, and construction 1.7km Mkpaeto-lkot Ndodot Road, Onna Area.

Additional of Internal Road in lkot Okoro; construction. 1.9 km Eda Street Anua; construction of 1.3 km Ubong Akpan/ Uwem Etulk Street; construction of 0.71km Esin Ufot Edoho Street in Eket LGA; construction of Flood Control Facilities in the Premises of Onna Local Government Secretariat; construction of 1.7km Mkpaeto-lkot Ndodot Road, Onna Area and construction of Fishing Terminal Junction to Esuk Utte Beach, Odu Ebughu, Mbo LGA.

On the FGPC mega road projects, the administration of Governor Umo is funding 39 roads, totaling 335.735 kilometers inherited from His Deacon Udom Emmanuel’s administration.

The projects are,  construction 10.75km lkot Ekaide -lkot Okoro-lkot lbritam Road (Section 2)in Oruk Anam LGA; reconstruction of 3.3km ldua Road in Eket Local Government Area; construction of 10.519km Mkpat Enin-kot Ubo-Ikot Ntot-Nkikara Road in Mkpat Enin /lkot\n·Abasi Local Government Area; construction of 6.475km Roads in Amayam Community/Comprehensive Health Centre,lkot Ekpene LGA; construction of 60m span Nto lde -lkot Amba Bridge with 800m Approach Road in Obot AkaraLGA; construction of 9.76km Ancillary roads with a 60m Bridge in Nsit Ubium LGA;  additional road measuring 23km Contract for the Expansion of Oron Road from Ring Road ll to Victor Attah Int.Airport and construction/Remodelling of Selected Roads, Strategic Roundabouts/Junctions in Eket Metropolis (Phases 1 & 11)

Also, 1.6km Dualized &2.2km expanded Carriageway; construction of 19.0km Etebi-Enwang Road with 2 No.Bridges Mbo/Esit Eket LGA; construction of 18.97km Abak 10-lbiakpan -Abbiakpo Otoro-Manta Road with spur in Abak LGA; construction of 6.0km Nung Atai -Ebighi Etta-Obufi -Atabong Market Road in Okobo LGA; construction of 14.8km of Internal Roads &Spurs with 1.9km of Discharge Drains in Awa Onna; construction of 13.5km Ikot Ebiere -lkot Edor -lkot lko lbon-Okom Road and Ukpana -Akpabom -Ikwe Road with 30m span bridge in Onna and Mkpat Enin LGAs; construction of 18.95km lkot Ibritam-Ekeffe-Ikot Akpan Afaha Road with 2 No.Bridges, Oruk Anam; construction of Uruan -Ekit ltam Road with 60m span Bridge and Spurs in Itu/Uruan LGAs.

Another projects are, construction of 13.13km Akpambiet-Edo-Edidaedo-Ebekpo Road Ndom Edim-ldun; construction of Akpantuen Road with spurs in Every Local Government; construction of 2.07km to -Urua Ekpa Road with 1.4km discharge drain in Uyo; reconstruction of 10.412km Pepsi Junction-Ukpom-Abak Road in Uyo and Abak Local Government Areas; construction of 5km (Phase l)of lkot Ukpo Inua -lkot Etenge Ndon-Atan Eka lko-Ikot Akpabio-ikot Okpok -lkot Efre-Atan ikpe road with 120 meters Span Bridge in lkot Abasi Local Government Area; construction of 8.5km Nduetong Oku-lbiaku Uruan -Ekit Itam Road with 60m span Bridge and Spurs in Itu/Uruan LGAs.

Construction of 6.4km Utu lkot Ekpo-lka Road with spur (2.6km)in Etim Ekpo LGA and additional work of 1.4km length of Road;  construction of 2.45km Roads at Block G, Anua /lfa lkot Okpon Housing Estate, Uyo;  construction of 5km ikot Akpa Edung-Ikot Obio Ata -Edem Ibiok-Ekpene Ukim Road UruanLGA; construction of 2Nos.Bridges of 20m &80m Span with 500m length of Approaches at Ikot Ekaide &Ikot Okoro in Oruk Anam LGA, construction of 12km (section l)lkot Ekaide-Ikot Okoro-lkot Ibritam Road in Oruk Anam LGA; construction of 13.6km lkot obio Offong-Nung Ukana (Spur I to lkot Obio Odongo)-Abaukpo -Spur ll to Afaha lkot in Easien Udim;  construction of a 2.5km Internal Road Network with an Outfall Drain in GRA, Ikot Ekpene;  construction of 9km Mbiaya Uruan -lta-Uruan -lkpa Uruan -Mbiakong Uruan Road With 60m\n·Span Bridge in Uruan Local Government Area and construction of 12.15km Enen Nsit-Obontong,Ikot Enwene-Edebom Oboetuk Ikot ObokMbiakom Obo Atai,Ikot Akpan Abia.

It is very important to note that the projects includes, construction of 5.0km Nkari-Mbiabong -lbono Okpporo-Mbente-Obbrong-Anwafi Road andSpur, Ini LGA; construction of 9.0km lkot Ada Idem -Ediene ikot Obio Imo -lkot Oku lkono Road in lbionolbom/Uyo LGA; construction of 5.0km Mary Slessor Hospital road with 30m Span Bridges in Itu LGA; construction of 6.36km Nko -Ikot Abia Ossom -ikpe Mbak Eyop Abak Ifia Link Road in Obot

Akara LGA with additional works of 0.9km outfall drain,3.65km road, and another 2.5km road; construction of 1.7km Uquo Iso Edoho -Edo Road in Esit EketEket LGA with 3.27km; construction of 5.0km Mary Slessor Hospital road with 30m Span Bridges in Itu LGA; construction of 15.13km lkot Esu-Otomo-Zumini Road in lka LGA; construction of 21.5km Urua Naria-lkot Nseyen -lkot Nkwot -Nung Ukim Road with 45m Span ·Cl(en- asi Road in Udung Uko/Oron Local Government Areas and 4.5km Edikor -Udu -Okobo in Udung Uko/Mbo/Oron Local Government Areas and construction of 16.19km of Internal Roads at the Dakkada Luxury Estate, Ibiaku Issiet.

It is a reality that government is a continuum, but in Nigeria, it has become nearly impossible for successors from the same political party to carry on the projects of their predecessors, not to mention the ones in the opposition.

However, the story of Akwa Ibom State stands as a testament to good leadership. Governor Umo Eno is diligently completing all projects initiated by his predecessors and intends to complete the Tropicana Hotels and Entertainment Centre initiated by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio’s administration.

Governor Umo Eno is a dedicated and responsible leader, who has demonstrated exceptional priority by refusing to abandon projects initiated by his predecessors. Despite potential political pressures and the temptation to start afresh with his agenda,

By continuing these projects, Governor Umo Eno has shown a deep respect for the taxpayers’ money and a commitment to efficient governance.

He understands the importance of continuity and stability in public projects, ensuring that the state’s resources are maximized for the benefit of its people.

Governor Umo Eno’s steadfast dedication to seeing through his predecessor’s projects demonstrates his leadership qualities, accountability, and genuine concern for the welfare of the State and its residents.