Governor Umo Eno on Tuesday said a Government Reserved Area, GRA, cannot retain its status without quality roads. The Governor stated this while inaugurating the 4.12-kilometre GRA road network in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.

The project was commissioned by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.The commissioning was part of activities marking Akwa Ibom State’s 39th anniversary.

The road project includes outfall drains and additional erosion reclamation works. The facilities are designed to tackle flooding and improve access within the GRA.

Addressing residents and dignitaries at the ceremony, Governor Eno said the project was inherited by his administration. He said the project had recorded little progress before his government terminated the earlier contract.

According to him, a new contractor was engaged to ensure speedy completion of the work. “Without good roads, you don’t have a GRA,” the governor declared.

He added that restoring the area’s status required roads, drains and supporting infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental challenges.

The Governor said the project reflected his administration’s commitment to delivering development across the 31 local government areas of the state.

He noted that several projects were ongoing simultaneously under his administration’s ARISE Agenda. According to him, the September commissioning exercise would continue in December.

He said the government plans to inaugurate additional projects, including the International Convention Centre and the 200-bed International Hotel. He disclosed that both projects had remained uncompleted for years before construction resumed under his administration.

Governor Eno also thanked Senator Akpabio for attending the event despite what he described as a demanding national schedule. He noted that the Senate President had earlier returned to the state for the reception of Ibom Air’s new Airbus A220-300 aircraft at the beginning of the month.

“Love is not expressed by words alone; it is expressed by action,” the Governor said. He described the Senate President’s repeated visits as evidence of goodwill towards the state.

He further urged residents to preserve the peace currently enjoyed across Akwa Ibom. He warned against ethnic divisions and insisted that development could only thrive where unity prevails.

“We are one Akwa Ibom,” he said, stressing that the governor, deputy governor and Senate President all came from different senatorial districts yet have continued to work together for the state’s development.

Earlier, Senator Akpabio said he returned to Nigeria barely a day before the commissioning but insisted on attending.He said he wanted to witness firsthand the progress recorded under Governor Eno’s administration.

“I don’t want to sit in Abuja and hear that Umo Eno is doing wonders. I came to witness it myself,” the Senate President said.

The Senate President recalled campaigning in Ikot Ekpene in 2006, when residents broke down in tears as they appealed for government intervention after years of neglect and poor infrastructure.

He narrated how Queen’s Street, which provides access to a charity home for visually impaired children, was inaccessible for years. He said the poor road prevented benefactors from reaching the home with food and other supplies.

“Those children used to go to bed hungry because there was no road for people to bring them food,” he said.

Akpabio also recounted reconstructing the Itam Bridge corridor and dualising major roads linking Ikot Ekpene and Abak communities.He said those interventions marked the beginning of the area’s transformation after decades of isolation.

In his goodwill message, the member representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Patrick Umoh, commended the quality of work done.

He said residents had witnessed the quality of the road construction, drainage and erosion reclamation works. He described the project as a durable solution to long-standing environmental challenges in the area.

Speaking on behalf of Ikot Ekpene stakeholders, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien highlighted the project’s engineering features.He said the project includes a 2.5-metre by 1.5-metre outfall drain.

He disclosed that another 8.93 kilometres of roads and 8.6 kilometres of drainage works were already under construction in the locality courtesy of Governor Eno.

The Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene offered royal blessings for the governor and prayed for sustained peace and development in the local government area.

In his welcome remarks, Elder Aniefiok Nkom said the people were happy because in just a few days, the governor had visited the area on three occasions.He said the governor had come to commission different projects such as roads and schools.

He promised that Ikot Ekpene would thank the Governor, the President, the Senate President and the All Progressives Congress, APC, with their votes in 2027.

The ceremony featured cultural performances, a brass band procession and celebrations by residents.Residents welcomed the completion of the project with songs and dances.

Among those in attendance were Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, former governors Yakubu Bako and John Ebiye, and members of the National Assembly.

Others were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, commissioners, traditional rulers and other dignitaries.