Also, the 1.6 kilometer Edem Effiong street of which was at a sorry stage is at a completion stage. The one side 2000 mitre drainage to control erosion and flood in the area is almost complete.
This project was awarded in 2015 but the contractor only commenced work in October 2016.
The Youth Leader of Ishie Clan who reacted on behalf of the people said that, “we have been working very closely with the contractors and are happy with the progress so far. Although the road is not fully completed yet, as you can see businesses have been boosted by this and we are very grateful to NDDC”.
Similarly, the Calabar/Ikom/Ogoja highway which used to be impassable is under serious rehabilitation. While some sections have been completed, others are in different stages of compilation.
For instance, the unmotorable sections Ikom-Calabar highway, a 2 kilometre covering from Akpet central in Biase local government area to to Ugep in Yakur, is under serious rehabilitation.
Also, the impassable section of the Ikom-Calabar road along Ekuri/London Junction in Obubra and Yakur local government area is under rapairs. It is a 2.60 kilometer which was a hotspot for armed robbery operations overtime. The contract is to be completed in the next few weeks.
The terrible Ochong/Iyam-Oyo stretch also along Ikom-Calabar highway which used to be accident hotspots that have claimed a lot of lives is almost completed.
In Ikom local government area, the 1.90 kilometer road around, B/Ekien road, in four corners which was chaotic ND poses a huge threat to traffic flow has been rehabilitated.
There are other ongoing NDDC projects like the construction of a 10 kilometer Akparabong/Bendeghede Afi. This road is very significant because it links almost all the Ikom communities to each other.
Reacting
More so, the Ekpogrinyan/Okundi road that leads to the popular Okundi market is near completion. The road according to findings was constructed in 1978 but has not gone through any form of maintenance until NDDC stepped.
Speaking, a commuter and a native of Okundi, Chris Bisong said that “as a person and that is the feelings of everybody, we are happy because this road was constructed in 1978 but no maintenance till now. Most young boys turned it into money making venture were the film the potholes then compel roads users to pay.
“We are happy that the rehabilitation is going on now. We are most grateful to the NDDC Chairman because this road would enhance improved economic activities; WS have a large market here (the Okundi Market) that’s feeding many States, we have palm plantations, Cocoa and many other things”.
It will be recalled that almost all the completed and ongoing NDDC projects in the state were awarded between 2013/2016 but because of impunity, corruption and lack of courage, the past leadership failed to compel contractors to return to site. They are only returned to site when Ndoma-Egba assumed office
Nevertheless, despite the many projects going on, the commission has come under serious criticism for awarding contracts to incompetent and corrupt contractors. Stakeholders have wondered what kept the contractors for many years before completing projects that should ordinarily take less than three months.
Ekanem Pius, a 42 years don said that ” Ndoma-Egba has shwon that NDDC can actually be the development commission it ought to have been. You can see that there’s a paradigm shift from how things were done before but he must muster the courage to depoliticise processes and of award of contracts.
“Contracts should only be awarded to tested and trusted contractors. I mean, competent people not all these political jobbers”.
While calling on the commission to sanction contractors who have defaulted in meeting time limit, Ubong Edem said berated the NDDC for concentrating in projects that ought to have been executed by the local and states government.
According to him, “I’m aware that this current board has not really commenced executing their own projects but let me advise Ndoma-Egba that NDDC must wake up to realities. The commission should be seen doing tangible projects not what we see now.
What is the business of NDDC with streets, streets lights o even borehole? What the jobs are local and state government if a commission like NDDC under the Presidency would be doing diddling drainages? This to me is ridiculous and a mockery of our collective intelligence; it should and must stop”.