Infrastructure as a Catalyst to Economic Development

By Essien Ndueso

When Chief Godswill Akpabio assumed office as the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State on May 29, 2009 he left no one in doubt that he was in a speed of light hurry to develop the State.

This was because he did not want to let anytime go by without having things to show to the people of the state who buried tribalism and pettiness to cast their votes for him.
Again, Governor Akpabio needed to start early so that both projects he initiated alongside those inherited from previous administrations would see the light of the day early enough.

Mindful of the importance of good road network in the development and improvement of education, health care, entertainment, tourism, it is understandable why the state government has spend over N150 billion naira on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of no fewer than 160 federal and state roads in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Today, through the various road construction and rehabilitation carried out by Akpabio’s administration, the whole state has become closely linked.

There is no gainsaying the fact that in some instance, roads have been built to tap the enormous economic potentials of the area.

Within almost two years in the saddle, Akpabio has almost turned the whole state into a mini-city. Day by day, his administration is awarding new contracts for construction of new roads which hitherto had been abandoned for several decades. A case at hand is the Cardinal Ekanem Avenue in Ikot Ekpene named after the first black West African Roman Catholic Cardinal, which had been abandoned for more than thirty years by successive governments. The award of contract for the Etebi-Enwang road with over 650 meters long bridge was to open up the hinterland for increased economic activities.

It could be noted that with the provision of good roads network, farmers and businessmen have been able to transport their wares to the city without facing the trauma of impassable roads.
Other major roads being executed by this development-friendly administration are Iwukem-Utu Etim Ekpo – Afaha Obong Road; Nung Udoe Itak – Use Ikot Amama Road and Enen Nsit, Abak – Ikot Ekpene Road, dualization of Ekim Itam – Idoro Road, as well as the over 116 urban roads spread across the state.

The co-operation and partnership with multi-national companies such as Exxon Mobil, and Centrica Statoil, is expected to culminate in the development of a Gas – to-Gasoline and LNG projects which would bring into our shores over forty $40 billion US Dollar investment, and points to the unwavering commitment to the development of the State.

Plans have also been concluded to dualize the road from Ibom Airport to Ibaka beach where the proposed $10 billion LNG project is to be cited.

Besides the provision of good road network, Akpabio’s Government has also brought the government closer to the grassroot by connecting over 800 villages to electricity.
Apart from these, mini-water project have also been executed in more than 28 rural communities in addition to construction and rehabilitation of health centres in about a hundred villages.

With these provisions, the standards of living of the local residents have been improved.
It is further observed that the provision of these basic amenities to those at the grassroot have impacted positively with its multiplier effect of creating employment for the citizenry.

The administration’s foresight in connecting more communities to the national grid has enable small and medium scale businesses to strife in the state thereby improving the economic fortunes of the people.

The provision of basic infrastructure to people at the local communities by the Akpabio-led administration has also stem rural-urban migration. This is evident in the on-going commissioning of 557 people-oriented projects across the entire parts of the state. These projects were executed through the State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.

The state government’s efforts at re- inventing Uyo with State of the Arts flyovers, foot bridges, multi billion naira underground drainage facility and other metropolitan Social amenities are pointers to the administration’s conscious effort at modernizing the State capital.

Akwa Ibom State today is working because of the serene and investor’s friendly environment created by the provision of infrastructure by Akpabio led administration.

In the area of tourism development, the Godswill Akpabio-led administration is taking the state to the next level by instituting the construction of the biggest entertainment complex in Sub- Sahara Africa, the Ibom Tropicana which will host a 15 floor 5- star hotel, a 10,000 sitter Events Dome, an American Style Shopping mall with Cineplex and a Water fall, etc. The multifaceted centre when completed will provide 5,000 jobs and boost the economy of the State. The government has also ensured the completion of Ibom Le Meriden Hotel and Golf Resort which it inherited with 18 rooms, and has since spent up to N3 Billion to realize the 170 - room facility.

In less than two years of people friendly leadership of Chief Godswill Akpabio’s administration the people are already savouring the dividends of democracy and this accounts for why Akwa Ibom people unanimously believe that Akwa Ibom Ado (is) OK.