By Sunday Frank
Honourable Uko Umoh, the Executive Chairman of Etinan local government area has moved to restore light to the Ikot Ibok, Ikot Mfon, Ekpene Ukpa, Ikot Nkang villages and many others after ten years of blackout.
The move is in fulfillment of his campaign promise of extending government presence to all villages by solving basic needs of people within the affected communities.
This was made known during tour of communities by Project Implementation Committee (PIC) on Wednesday October 30.
Recall that on October 23, the executive chairman had set up Project Implementation Committee with a clear mandate to plan and execute projects.
Leading members of the committee to communities on need assessment, the chairman of PIC, Rt. Hon. Samuel lIkon warned villagers, especially youths against sabotaging government’s efforts at ameliorating their pain.
“Let me state here clearly, the local government chairman will not tolerate any form of sabotage or stampeding of contractors.
“Nobody has the right to demand for settlement from any contractors or harass people that will be coming to work here. If such happens I can assure you government will withdraw from such project.” Ikon said.
At Iwo Etor, the Deputy Village Head, Obong Inyang Inukho appealed to government to revitalize spoiled water project executed by NNPC/MPN joint venture many years ago.
The committee also inspected 300KV transformer installed and commissioned on 10th April 1992.
The committee stopped over at Ekpene Ukpa village where residents identified a faulty 300KVA transformer that has plunged them into darkness for years. The committee however, recommended removal of the transformer to a safe location till it is fixed.
At Ikot Eba, the Deputy Village Head Obong Clement Ubom led the team to site of a dilapidated water project within the premises of Community Comprehensive Secondary School. The committee assured them of government’s intervention.
The Village Head of Ikot Mfon, Chief Unen Emmanuel, applauded the Executive Chairman for his love but explained that even though the community does not have water, they would prefer reconnection to the national grid.
It was a pathetic sight at Ikot Ibok village as some residents thronged out to plead with the committee to restore power supply to them as two 300KVA transformers stationed to supply electricity were vandalized since ten years ago.
“Sir, please help us with light because even our children that were born ten years ago don’t know what electricity looks like and we are suffering.” These were emotion-laden words of a resident of Ikot Ibok village in Etinan local government.
The committee inspected the two transformers and identified parts needed for a quick fix.
At Afaha Akpan Ekpo, youths were excited to see the committee and they pleaded for the only borehole servicing the community to be fixed with a promise that they will guard against vandalism.
At Ikot Nkang , the village head and some youths received the committee. They took members of the committee members to a vandalized electricity transformer commissioned by Akwa Ibom State Government in 2008.
The community also drew the attention of the committee to eight broken electricity poles. The committee assured them of government plan to intervene.
The committee culminated their inspection at Ekom Iman village.
