Governor Godswill Akpabio says his decision to complete mega projects in
Akwa Ibom before 2015 is irreversible.
Chief Akpabio stated this Sunday accompanied by the Chief Executive
Officer of DAAR Communications (AIT), High Chief Raymond Dokpesi
inspected the construction of a 30,000-capacity Ibom International
Stadium, a 275-bed 20th Anniversary Specialist Hospital and the fifth
flyover in the state.
The Governor regretted “I had a clear vision of what I decided to do for
the state as I emerged as Governor in 2007. There had been a fluctuation
in crude oil production and prices that affected the revenue base of the
state, else we would have done more mega transformation projects”.
” Infrastructures is the basic foundation of our state and it also brings
in development in any society. So, we had to build mega projects such as
the airport and stadium. The stadium has standard facilities that would
accommodate both local and international matches”, the state Chief
Executive Officer explained .
“So, I have no regret in building mega projects in the state because the
people’s money is seen on ground and I also make life more meaningful to
the entire country by the building of roads for easy access and I am
confident in completing all the on-going projects on ground before my
administration is over”, he said.
He observed that the state government would have built an underground
tunnel from the Ibom international airport to the Ibaka seaport, but
attributed delay in executing the projects to short time and funds, hoping
that the incoming government would collaborate with the Federal Government
to complete the projects and disclosed that the underground tunnel was
designed by an Italian firm.
At the premises of 20th Anniversary Specialist Hospital, Itam,the Governor
stated that the hospital would be completed and inaugurated in 2014, and
stressed that the new hospital would help check capital flight.
Impressed by the mega projects in the state, Chief Dokpesi said that the
country needs rapid development in the country through visionary leaders
to provide the dividends of democracy, which he stressed that Governor
Akpabio is an exemplary of such a leader.
Dokpesi lauded the Governor’s visionary leadership in making the state a
foundation of industrialization, remarking that the stadium is the best in
the country and in Africa in terms of its international facilities where
African countries would be proud of, saying that the project represents an
index of rapid development in the country that has been yearning for
committed evolutionary leadership.
He noted Governor Akpabio had shown exemplary leadership in development,
which he said all Nigerian Governors should come to Akwa Ibom State to see
true leadership and what development can do, saying that the state is
laying a foundation for industrialization