Abandoned project deprives us of our livelihood – Community

Residents of Uko Nteghe Community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have raised the alarm over non-completion of Etebi-Enwang Bridge by the previous administration of Senator Godswill Akpabio

According to them, the incomplete project has affected their source of livelihood.

The project is a network of 22 km with 12 km of it almost completed. Work on the main bridge is also said to be 68 per cent completed.

Southern City News gathered that the company handling the bridge contract had partitioned the river, which hindered the free flow of water into the other part of the river.

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It was learnt that the tiny holes, which were made for the passage of the water, hindered fishing activities in the area.

The Youth Vice President of the community, Mr. Edward Moses, told Southern City News in Uko Nteghe on Thursday, that the community had been deprived of their means of livelihood as 93 per cent of Uko Nteghe indigenes are fishermen and women.

Moses said since the work on the bridge began in 2007, the community had expected the project would not last for more than a year or two before completion.

He added that the community adopted a new lifestyle by rendering services to the construction company and oil firm in the area.

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Moses stated some of the workers were on contract and were laid off.

He said, “Our community has been facing tough times. We cannot go to the sea for fishing as the river had been partitioned by Sino Eng because of the project.

“Now, they have succeeded in starving us. The sea does not produce fish anymore. Unlike in the previous past when we used to have good catch. But now, one may sail from morning till evening without having a catch that is even sufficient to feed one’s family,” Moses said.

However, the administration manager, Sino Eng, Mr. Moses Unweh, said the project was abandoned as government did not release funds to contractors.

He stated that once the funds were released to the contractors, work on the bridge as well as on the road would begin in earnest.

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