Jonathan in Uyo, inaugurates Ibom airport, flyovers

Written by The Punch Friday, 16 July 2010

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday inaugurated the first phase of the Ibom International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Jonathan, who arrived the state on a two-day working visit at about 11.45 am, also commissioned the controversial flyover bridges on Atiku Abubakar avenue and Itan junction in Uyo, the state capital.

The President also inaugurated the multibillion naira 22-kilometre airport road and performed the ground breaking ceremony of the main terminal of the phase II of the airport.

At a civic reception held for him, Jonathan announced that the Federal Government would soon embark on unified approach to reimbursing state governments, expenses on Federal roads within their domain.

He said that the decision to adopt a unified system in settling states was reached at the National Executive Council meeting.

He explained that the growth of Akwa Ibom State in the last five years showed that the state governor was focused and urged the citizens to support the government in its drive to turn around the economy of the state.

He said, “With the projects I have seen on the ground, one thing that is clear is that the Akwa Ibom State governor is focus. This time is not a time for a long speech because I don’t want to turn it to a political rally. The projects I have seen are not just projects but projects with high quality.

“What I request from the indigenes of the state is for us to encourage the governor so that he can do more. For us at the NEC, we have agreed that we should adopt a unified approach in refunding amounts spend on federal roads by the state government.

“For example, if a federal government road is one lane and the state government turns it to 7 lanes, the federal government cannot pay all the amounts expended on the road project but rather adopt the approach in payment.”

Jonathan, however, expressed satisfaction over the pipe jacking technology employed by the state government to control perennial flood in Uyo.

He described the project as the first of its kind in West Africa, saying that one good thing about democratic government was that it brings about competition.

“In all the states I have visited, the state government has initiated one thing or the other that is quite unique. I will not mention names but the drainage control system embarked upon by the state government is the first of its kind in West Africa.

“As a government, we would work with all the state government in giving the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.” he said.

Jonathan also commended the contractors that handled some of the projects for their good work, noting that oftentimes contractors frustrate the work of state governors.