Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has said the ongoing erosion control and land reclamation project along Uyo Village Road will unlock more than 150 hectares of land for the expansion of Uyo metropolis.
Eno disclosed this on Thursday while inspecting the project, expressing satisfaction with the pace of work and the progress made by the contractor, AMITECH Construction, since mobilisation to site.
The governor said the intervention had substantially altered the landscape of the area, which for years had been defined by a deep ravine and severe erosion that threatened adjoining infrastructure.
According to him, the project goes beyond erosion control, as the reclaimed land is expected to become a major component of the state’s plan for developing a new Uyo downtown.
“This project will reclaim over 150 hectares of land that we want to use for Uyo downtown, and you will begin to have estates coming up here. That’s the plan,” Eno said.
He noted that the disappearance of the ravine demonstrated the extent of work already achieved, recalling that the area had remained an erosion-prone ravine for many years.
The governor also pointed out that public infrastructure, including the Uyo Primary Health Centre and the Governor’s Office Annex, had previously faced the risk of being affected by the erosion, making the intervention critical to the protection of government facilities and surrounding communities.
Eno said the reclaimed expanse would provide space for residential estates and other urban infrastructure as the state government pursues the planned expansion of Uyo.
He was accompanied during the inspection by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Adviser, Mr Aniefiok Johnson; Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga; Commissioner for Information, Elder Aniekan Umanah, and other government officials.
