Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Tuesday inaugurated a bridge in Akwa ibom state.
The bridge is believed to be the longest bridge built by a state government in Nigeria.
The former president while inaugurating the bridge hailed the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel for consistently delivering well structured growth-promoting projects.
The bridge, which is 1.15 kilometres long, connects Mbo LGA with Esit Eket LGA and opens up riverine communities in Okobo, Mbo and Esit-Eket LGAs, and also opens the gateway into the economic nerve centres and homes of the Ibom Industrial City, Liberty Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Ibom Deep Seaport, Dakkada Global Oil, Ibom Solutions Hub and the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) located on the shorelines of the Atlantic Ocean.
The former President Jonthan, who was filled with joy while he flagged off the project, said: “What I see whenever I visit Akwa Ibom State is substantial evidence of a well structured growth-promoting projects in the last seven and half years. I commend the Governor and his team very sincerely for this visionary leadership”.
“great and remarkable”, adding that Udom is the “enabler of economic growth” in Akwa Ibom through several projects.
He said the bridge is not only a “flagship project”, adding, “The unique thing about this bridge is that it is the longest bridge in Nigeria ever built by a state government” and it takes someone with a total commitment to the improvement of the wellbeing and quality of life of his people to embark on this type of project that I am seeing here today”.
Jonathan said the governor does not build physical bridges alone but human,social and political bridges across the state and Nigeria.
The host, Governor Emmanuel Udom said the project was undertaken by his administration in order to connect and open up riverine areas for investors as part of his Completion Agenda for the State.
“When I took up the mantle of leadership of this state, I said to myself I came here simply to serve my people. In my second term, I said we are going to open up the riverine areas; I am glad to say that there is no local government area today in this state that my administration has not touched with completed or or ongoing projects.
“Today, you can drive from Uyo to the Atlantic Ocean on dualized roads. We are also building one of the most intelligent airport terminal buildings in Africa that can also anchor an A380 aircraft. So by commissioning this bridge here today…, we are opening up new opportunities for our people, and we want to thank God for all of these achievements,” the governor said.
