By Uko Okon
The Action Democratic Congress (ADC) Akwa Ibom State chapter has accused the Federal Government of insincerity and fraud over claims of a 76 billion naira Eket bypass project.
According to the party, there is no such project underway in Eket Local Government Area of the region.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Manfred Ekpe, in a statement on Wednesday in Uyo, stated that the Federal Government’s chart, captioned “Infrastructural Equity for Every Region,” is misleading and inaccurate.
Recall that the recent chart published by the federal government shown that the Eket bypass, a 9.7km road, is being funded by the Tinubu administration at a cost of N76 billion.
However, Ekpe explained that the Eket bypass was designed under former President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the East/West Road project.
“ADC Akwa Ibom State chapter have seen a chart designed by the Federal Government and captioned “Infrastructural Equity for Every Region”.
“The said chart is designed as a response to the opposition who showed in a chart, that President Tinubu is concentrating major projects gulping the greater percentage of national capital budget in the South West.
“In a counter statement, the Federal Government produced a chart showing the infrastructural projects of the Tinubu Government nationwide.
“In the South South Region the chart put a total of 2.41 trillion Naira as cost of projects in the region. Item 2 on the chart shows Eket bypass, a 9.7km road at 76 Billion Naira.
“ADC wishes to state that there is no such project by the Tinubu Government anywhere in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.”
He added that the project was abandoned and later revived under the Buhari administration, with Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, noting that only clearing of about 1 kilometer of the bypass was done, and no bitumen has been laid.
“Eket bypass, a 9.7 km dual carriage ring road was designed under former President Goodluck Jonathan as part of Section IV of the East/West Road.
“The bypass was latter abandoned and revived under the Buhari civilian Junta and under NDDC when Senator Godswill Akpabio was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. Only clearing of about 1 kilometer of the bypass was done.
“Not even 1 meter of bitumen has been laid. Till date this is the state of this road.The accompanying pictures show the state of this road. Nothing is happening there as claimed by the APC Yahoo Yahoo Government.”
