Mr Itoro Columbia
Chairman of Ikono Local Government Area
The collapse of
Nkwot Ikot Nseyen – Nung Ukim bridge and Iton Ikot Ito – Iton Mmong
bridges is said to have brought untold hardship to the people. Chairman of
Ikono Local Government Area, Mr Itoro Columbia, said the collapsed bridges have
separated the people of the communities as two wards in the area have been cut
off.
He said it
has now become difficult for farmers to easily access their farms and dispose
of their farm produce. He, however, said he was hopeful of the state government’s intervention as
Governor Udom Emmanuel had awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the road linking the communities.
“One of the bridges, which is supposed to serve as
the nexus connecting two wards eventually broke down many years ago, making it
difficult to move from ward six toward seven.
“Beyond linking the villages, a large majority of
the natives are farmers and you can imagine the adverse effects that the
collapsed bridges have caused to farming activities. It is as bad as that.
“But we have
a ray of hope when Governor Udom Emmanuel came and awarded some contracts for
the road, and I think that barring the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse
consequences on the economy of the state, the bridges would have been fixed by
now,” he stated.
But some residents of the community have said they
are not sure when the road would be fixed as the coronavirus pandemic had
caused the construction of the road to be put on hold.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Ikono State
Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mr Asuquo Udo, has appealed for an urgent intervention by the
state government. Udo, who raised the concerns on the floor of the House through
a motion, called on the state government to ensure that remedial measures are
put in place to enable pedestrian access between the communities.
“I urge the Akwa Ibom State Government to direct
relevant agencies to intervene by taking steps to inspect the broken down
bridges, and to avert any loss of life,” he said.
From
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/
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