C’River: Hope Rises On Construction Of Ikom-Agbokim Waterfalls Road

There are fresh hopes that work on the abandoned Ikom-Etomi-Agbokim Waterfalls Road will commence as soon as the dry season sets in, according to the minister of state for industry, Senator John Owan Enoh.

Already, the federal government, through the ministry of finance and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, have met with the contractors and necessary financial obligations met, to enable the resumption of work.

The road has remained a death trap, inhibiting tourists’ movements to the Agbokim Waterfalls. Owan Enoh, who is from the area, has been on his toes, trying to get the relevant federal government agencies to fix the road.

On Wednesday, Owan Enoh announced on his verified facebook page, that hope is now in sight, with the release of some funds to the contractor. He said “this arrangement was consumated in a meeting attended by the Managing Director of NDDC, his Director of Finance and Accounts(DFA), the Permanent Secretary Special Duties, Ministry of Finance, the Director Cash Management of that Ministry and myself.

“The agreement was that releases would be made from September through December to help NDDC fund the road project so the contractor can return to site at the onset of the dry season.

“I had committed to continue to track the releases as planned and the return of the contractor to the site so that this decision is converted into visible work on ground for the benefit of our beloveth people.

“I am glad to report again, that government has kept faith with that agreement. Funding for the first month of September has been released. NDDC has also fulfilled its part by making a release to the contractor.”

According to the minister, the contractor has confirmed receipt of the funds and had assured that “the only remaining constraint to mobilising back to site is the weather. Once the rains subside, work will resume.

“Again, I commit to a continuous follow-up on these developments, tracking both the subsequent releases and the actual return to site so that the people who depend on this corridor- traders, farmers, and communities, can measure the outcome in improved access rather than in announcements.”

He expressed gratitude to the president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister of finance and the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Sam Ogbuku for their efforts in making sure that the road is fixed.