Commissioner for Environment, Sir Charles Udoh and his team during an inspection of erosion control project site in Uyo on Friday 8th January, 2021. (Photo credit : Information Unit, Min. of Environment)
By Contributor
The Akwa Ibom State Government has said that it will complete two major erosion control projects at Etim Umanah and Anua in Uyo local government area in 2021.
The Commissioner for Environment, Sir Charles Udoh, who inspected the project sites on Friday said the two projects will be completed in August next year.
Udoh announced that the Ministry of Environment will now inspect ongoing work at the two erosion control sites bi-monthly to monitor quality compliance and pace of work by the contractors.
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He noted that the erosion menace facing Etim Umanah streets and Anua were caused by wrongly terminated drains.
As against the rumours that the projects were delayed because contractors were not paid, the Commissioner was quoted in a report by the information unit of the Ministry as saying ‘that funds for the project are seated in the bank, pending when the contractors reach an agreed milestone with the government.’
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The consultant and the contractor handling the two projects, Messrs Prelim Consulting Ltd and the Nigerpet Structures Ltd took the Hon. Commissioner around the projects sites.
At Anua erosion site, the Managing Director of Prelim, Engr. Bassey Asuquo, said the pace of work at Anua was slowed down in a bid to save some houses in the area.
He said that the underground pipe is about 80% completed while the earth work is 8% completed, noting that without the completion of the underground drain the earth work cannot be accomplished.
Those who accompanied the Commissioner to the sites were the State project coordinator of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. Ubong Harrison, Managing Director of Nigerpet Structures Ltd, Mr. Sunday Popoola, Managing Director Prelim Consulting Ltd, Engr. Bassey Asuquo and Director of Erosion and Flood Control in the ministry, Mr. Okon Effiong.
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