Akwa Ibom Govt engaged in unauthorized road construction in my constituency – Abia lawmaker

A member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Lewis Obianyi, on Friday claimed that the Akwa Ibom State Government is constructing the Uzonta-Azumini road in his constituency without authorization.

The lawmaker said the construction of the road, which comes through the neighbouring Ika Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, had already stretched five kilometres into his constituency, before his attention was drawn to it.

Speaking to journalists while inspecting the graded portion of the road on Friday, he appealed to the Akwa Ibom State Government to stop the construction, as the development was generating tension among communities in both states.

He said, “My constituents drew my attention that the Akwa Ibom State Government through Ika Local Government Area is using tractors to encroach into some part of Azumini Ndoki community in Ukwa East Local Government.

“And from my inspection today, the process, so far, has gone about five kilometres deep into Abia State territory without any form of authorisation or consent from the appropriate quarters.”

According to him, the Mayor of Ukwa East Local Government, Dame Ngozi Nwagbara, denied knowledge of the development when he contacted her.

He lamented the destruction of economic trees and farmlands in the course of the construction without adequate negotiation with their owners.

“I have called the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, to resist the temptation from any parochial interest group and do the right thing as the man of integrity he has been known for.”

Obianyi urged Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to urgently intervene in the matter to avoid ceding the area to Akwa Ibom.