By Uko Etim, Uyo
Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, weekend, flagged off the One-Project-Per-LGA initiative in the Uyo Senatorial District of the State.
This is just as Eno told all contractors awarded and to be awarded the contracts to strictly comply with the specifications of the projects and ensure timely delivery or risk sanctions from the government.
The Governor disclosed this at Oboyo Ikot Ita, Nsit Ibom LGA where he laid the foundation for the construction of a Primary Healthcare Centre, and by extension, flagged off the programme in Uyo Senatorial District.
Newsnowng reports that the One-project-per-LGA is an initiative of the current administration of Governor Umo Eno’s administration, meant to distribute different projects across all the Local Government Areas of the state to enhance rural development.
The Governor explained that the choice of the healthcare facility project for Nsit Ibom in Uyo Senatorial District was the collective wish of the Nsit Ibom people to experience a functional primary healthcare facility.
He assured of government commitment to funding the project to ensure its completion within a record period of 12 weeks, adding that machinery has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation.
“We are so happy to be here today to flag off one of our rural projects in Nsit Ibom, using this to flag off others in Uyo Senatorial District.
“We are ready to fund this project as you meet the milestones. We expect that this project will take just twelve weeks. So from today and the next twelve weeks, we should come and commission this project.
“Please note, that we have a Projects Monitoring and Evaluation Team from the Governor’s Office and we have the Ministry for Special Duties monitoring this project. Those two groups must endorse your IPC before one Naira is released, they will come for assessment. Please stay within the specifications.”
Governor Umo Eno informed communities across the state that the government will only undertake projects selected based on collective interest and resolution of stakeholders in the area.
He noted that such a project must be within the budget size appropriated for the One Project-Per-LGA Programme while urging Council Chairmen to take responsibility for projects cited within their domains.
“I would like to say again that these projects are chosen by the stakeholders. We have given power back to you so that you can also know how power is. All we are asking is, to sit down together, bring everybody together and choose one project for your Local Government. If you can not choose, then don’t blame the Governor. The days have gone when one man will answer we.”We” must be the total of all the stakeholders in a community.
“Don’t expect the Governor to be involved in a situation where one person who has access to the Governor will appeal to him and bring one project and then brag tomorrow that he brought the project. Let it be “us” that brought the project. That is what I want across this state”, he stated.
Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Dr. Bassey Okon, said that the Oboyo Ikot Ita Health Center upon completion will be equipped with male and female wards, an injection room, a pharmacy, a kitchen, restaurant, two semi-detachable bungalows, and the premises finished with a good landscape and good parking space for the staff and patients.
Stakeholders including the Member representing Nsit Ibom State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Eric Akpan, and General Paul Isang rtd., who spoke on behalf of the people commended the Governor for flagging off the project in the LGA.
