CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ORON, UYO - EAST WEST ROAD TERMINATED

Akwa Ibom State Government has revoked the contract for the construction of Oron - Uyo road traversing Nsit Atai and Okobo Local Government Areas to East West Road earlier awarded Renaissance Construction Company following the inability of the construction firm to commence work ten months after the contract had been awarded.

The State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel announced this at the Apostolic Church Oron field Oron Local Government Area where he attended a Church service.

He said that no contractor should hold the state to ransom by being unable to fulfil the deed entered into with the state government on projects earmarked for execution.

Governor Emmanuel lauded other firms who had been able to live up to expectation irrespective of challenges and reiterated his administration's commitment to the development of the state.

He called on the people to shun ethnicity and other biasis and make the state named after God a model in develpment the biting impact of the prevailing technical economic recession notwithstanding.

The State Chief Executive who attended the Church Service alongside the Secretary to the State Government, Sir Ettekamba Umoren, Eket and Ikot Abasi House of Representatives Members, Deconess Owoidighe Ekpoattai and Hon. Francis Charles Udoyok, Members of the State Executive Council, Immediate Past Minister of Housing Mrs Akon Eyakenyi and other Political big wigs in the state, called on the church to pray for God's mercy for Nigeria and pledged a donation of a Sixty KVA Generator to boost the church convention programme slated for November this year.

Preaching on the theme "Show Result" the field Superintendent Pastor Effiong Okon Uyeh said that result clears doubt and cancels negative insinuations.

He congratulated Governor Udom Emmanuel for the various development projects executed across the state and particularly mentioned the rehabilitated roads in Oron metropolis which he said were death traps to commuters before the advent of this administration.

Fielding questions from Government House Correspondents shortly after the Church service, the Commissioner for Works Mr Ephraim Inyang clarified the reasons for the revocation of the Oron Uyo road contract saying that the contracting Firm has reneged on the Deed for the construction of the 29Km road spanning Nsit Atai , Okobo to East West road with three Bridges on two phases which ground breaking was performed in october last year.

He said the work was expected to be completed within thirty six months and that the firm has failed in it obligations as there is no evidence of work on the road and that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barister Uwemedimo Nwoko has been directed to review the contractual agreement between the State Government and the Construction Company.

He expressed appreciation to other road contracting firms for bracing up with the contractual dateline on projects assigned them.

10 Things You didn't Know about "Oro"

Oro is only popular with maritime academy situated in its environ, but little do we know about the culture and richness of Oro soil and people. They are warm-loving and accommodating. Here are 10 things you didn't know about 'Oro nation'

1. Oro is the most producing oil community in Nigeria. They produce 80% of Akwa-ibom crude oil. (Yet, no good basic amenities to show for it)

2. Oro is the 3rd largest ethnic group in Akwa -ibom state with 5(five) Local government areas(okobo, mbo, udung-oku, oron, urua-offong/oruko) after the Ibibio and Annang ethnic group.


3. Oro people inhabit parts of both Akwa-ibom and Cross river and share same ancestral affiliations with the efiks (calabar).
(Its easier for an efik descendant to comprehend Oro than both Annang and Ibibio ethnic group)



4. Oro land is originally address as "Oro nation" and its people consist of 9 Clans called Afaha.
These are; Afaha Okpo, Afaha Ukwong, Ebughu, Afaha Ibighi, Effiat, Afaha Ubodung, Etta, Afaha Oki-uso, and Afaha Idua (Ilue).


5. Oro is the cure for delicious sea foods ( crabs, fresh fishes, prawns, oysters, crayfish and so on...) A place where people from other part of Nigeria come to buy crayfish, afang, fish etc.

6. Fair complexion is mostly seen amongst them. Their ladies are scarcely tall but pretty and smart.

7.Oro is home to one of the oldest museum and high school in Nigeria, Methodist boys high school, Oron. Founded in 1905

 8.Oro is home to a lot of natural resources including silica sand, salt,Limestone,Uranium, Manganese, clay.

9.Their major occupation is fishing and farming.

10. Oron Union is the most respected and known association of the oro people(akpakip Oro)

Ojei! Ojei!! Ojei!!! badi... Akpakip Oro!

Engr Nkpubre Okon Nkpubre speaks about the Oron - Calabar bridge.

The controversial Oron - Calabar bridge raising interest by some high profile individuals, is not taking a pretty smile.


Engr Nkpubre Okon Nkpubre wrote:

"I have come to realize that Lawyers, Politicians, Journalists and others with good communication skills can argue equally convincingly for or against an issue or a position depending on where their interests lie.

 To these people,TRUTH is a variable and depends on their ability to twist, colorize and interpret words, situations and actions to make undiscerning public believe as TRUTH what they want them to believe. Sometimes they know that what they have made people believe as TRUTH is actually false, but this serves their interest at that point in time and they glorify themselves with sense of achievement. This is what the managers of propaganda do in politics and war.

I am surprised at the gamut of commentaries by educated Oron people on the controversy surrounding the realignment of Section V of the East –West road where Oron people are supposed to be the main beneficiaries. I was introduced  in the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in 2012 to Section V of the East-West road at the Conceptual Design stage and I was excited to high heavens with the preferred alignment  linking Oron  to Calabar  with only a 22.5 Km road including bridges. I was excited because with this road, I had thought it would be possible for an indigent Oron student who cannot afford accommodation in Calabar to live in Oron Town and attend lectures in the University of Calabar.

It is disturbing to observe that those who appear to be supporting the realignment of the road in line with Chief Amana’s proposal claim they are doing so because the realignment best serve the interest of Oron people and those who are against the realignment claim that it is against the interest of Oron people. The question is who defines or decides what best serve the interest of Oron people?   In this 21st century, is the science or art of road alignment through Oron community too sophisticated that Oron people cannot on their own collectively decide  which alignment best serves their interest?  If there was any doubt about the effects of the originally preferred alignment on Oron community, does Oron Nation not have a platform or forum where such effects could have been presented, collectively discussed and decision taken?

Some of the arguments put forward by some educated Oron people insult the intelligence of other educated Oron people and constitute an embarrassment to the whole Oron Nation."