Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has reiterated his administration’s commitment to welcoming and appreciating constructive criticisms that are not motivated by malice and mischief.
Eno made the remarks on Wednesday during the commissioning of a 1.3 Kilometres underground concrete flood control tunnel, reconstructed section of Atiku Abubakar Way, with walkway, drainage, solar street lights, and reconstruction of the adjoining one-kilometer Afaha Ube Itam road.
He emphasized his commitment to using Akwa Ibom’s wealth to improve the lives of the people and alleviate their suffering through the execution of impactful projects and programs.
Eno noted that the underground drainage was one of the interventions of his administration in response to citizens’ outcry. He commended the contractor, Hensek Integrated Services, for the speedy execution of the project.
“We are committed to touching lives, improving the standard of living of our people, and providing both soft and hard infrastructure. The current times demand soft infrastructure, supporting our people to return to farming, taking advantage of job opportunities, and maintaining peace to attract investment and provide jobs,” he said.
He also encouraged citizens to report any issues in their environment, promising prompt attention from the government.
Governor Eno urged the people to take responsibility for protecting infrastructure within their domains, stating, “We cannot be destroying facilities that the Government spent so much money to fix. It is not my money, it is our collective money. So if you see someone destroying government property, know that it is part of your money that’s being destroyed.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, speaking at the project commissioning, urged Akwa Ibom people to be vigilant and guard against the vandalization of public infrastructure. He commended Governor Eno for prioritizing the needs of his people by initiating and completing impactful projects within his first year in office, describing him as a proactive leader.
Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga, stated that the project, which was awarded in August 2023, was completed to specifications.
The Head Teacher of Beulah International School, Mr. Itoro Udokang, and a pupil of the school, Miss Ofonono Vitalis, expressed profound gratitude to the governor for the intervention, describing him as a God-sent and a caring father.