...expresses commitment to build more estates.


The Executive Chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA), Rt. Hon. Anietie Eka, has inspected government critical infrastructure.

Addressing journalists at the commencement of the inspection tour, the Executive Chairman said the essence was to take stock of government critical infrastructure and assets in order to fashion out ways of improving on them and accelerating all-round development, in line with his vision of building a smart city in Akwa Ibom State.

He said he was also on the inspection tour to transform the vision of Governor Umo Eno for Uyo as a smart city into reality, by ensuring the provision of access roads and amenities within the estates for residents and others who had been allotted land to build.

Rt. Hon. Eka revealed that beyond Ediene Ikot Obio Imo Residential Estate, the Akwa Ibom State Government was particularly interested in providing more housing schemes for a lot of Akwa Ibom people, a policy he said is encapsulated in the ARISE Agenda of Pst Umo Eno.

“ His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno has granted us this opportunity to move in and provide basic amenities in this estate. If you look around, you will see heavy equipment that has been moved in for the past one week.

“ Governor Umo Eno is very particular in providing housing schemes for a lot of Akwa Ibom people, as enshrined in ARISE Agenda. So, we commend him for what he had been doing, and we are here to assist in interpreting his dreams and ensuring that by the end of his first term, most of his visions must have been completed”.

A resident of the estate, Mrs. Comfort Nkereuwem, who spoke to journalists, appreciated Governor Umo Eno for the on going construction of roads in the estate.

She noted the developmental strides of the governor in many areas since assumption of office, expressing optimism that Pst Eno would do more for the residents of the estate and indeed Akwa Ibom people.

Mrs. Nkereuwem however pleaded with Governor Eno, through the Executive Chairman of UCCDA, to provide electricity, water and other amenities in the estate, saying these would ameliorate some of their challenges.

Mr. Oscar Tom, a youth representative, while appreciating Governor Umo Eno for the commencement of road construction in the estate, urged him to develop it to a standard that would bring it at par with other modern Estates.

At Nung Oku Roundabout, Uyo, the Executive Chairman, while addressing some roadside traders, illegal motor park operators and youths, said the visit to the area was imperative to understand the degree of defacement of the roundabout and its environs, and to also send warnings to those involved in unauthorized businesses, of the commitment of the agency to end all illegal activities within the Uyo Capital City.

He said he was committed to this cause of transformation, as Governor Eno had empowered him to reposition the capital city and give it the deserved outlook.

Earlier, Rt. Hon. Eka had paid a courtesy visit to the Transition Committee Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo in the local government council.

The Executive Chairman of UCCDA said he was in the council to pay homage to the Transition Committee Chairman, Mr Uwemedimo Udo and also seek areas of collaboration that would help in facilitating the realization of his vision of building a smart capital city.

Eka revealed that since assumption of office last December, he had carried out a lot of reforms aimed at restoring the Uyo Capital City master plan, and solicited support from the council to achieve more.

He however appreciated Dr. Udo for his capacity in giving the people of Uyo good leadership, and described him as an outstanding and intelligent gentleman who had shown sufficient managerial acumen in running the affairs of the council.

In his response, the Uyo Transition Committee Chairman congratulated Rt. Hon. Eka on his appointment as the Executive Chairman of UCCDA.

While pledging to collaborate with the agency to transform the capital city into world-class, Dr. Udo drew the attention of UCCDA to what he referred to as a violation of the green area reserve within the city.

He therefore, appealed to the Executive Chairman of UCCDA to address this issue, as well as street trading along some major roads and streets, indiscriminate erecting of billboards and operation of illegal motor parks within the city.

UCCDA also inspected John Ebiye Estate (100 units) drainage system, First/ Second City Cemeteries respectively at Mbikporo/Use Offot, Akpasima Residential Estate, Ikot Akpan Abia, as well as Ibom Plaza.

The Executive Chairman, who spoke in those locations, pledged the commitment of the agency in improving facilities at the cemeteries and building more viable estates, in line with the ARISE Agenda of Pst Umo Eno.