Governor Akpabio Describes Recent Flooding In The State As Sabotage

"This administration has invested so much in constructing the underground drainage system...I therefore see no reason why the flood should assume such a momentum if not sabotage".

These were the words of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, when he responded to the recent flooding in the State which rendered some streets like the one leading to the
Hiltop Mansion (Wellington Bassey Way), Udoh Street, Ukana Offot, Atiku Abubakar, IBB Avenue, Osong Ama, and Ekom Iman junction, among others, impassable after heavy rains.

The governor, who frown at the strange flood during the Government House monthly prayer meeting held at St. John’s Chaplaincy, Uyo, Sunday, however ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the flood.

He announced the constitution of a committee headed by Engr. Etido Inyang, Special Adviser on Technical Matters, to investigate the cause.

“I want to investigate and know the root cause of the flood because we have invested heavily in constructing underground drainage system,” the governor said.

These days heavy down pour have so far rendered hundreds of Uyo residents in Akwa Ibom homeless and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

It submerged many houses, including the Uyo abode of the deputy speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Udo Kierian Akpan, located in Osong Ama and obstructed vehicular movements in some parts of the state capital including the road leading to the State government house, Wellington Bassey Way.

Meanwhile, flooding these days have pushed inhibitants of Akwa Ibom, especially those on the social media: Facebook, twitter and so on, to question how effective is the famous pipe jacking system.

Anietie Ekpenyong, who is the MD/CEO, GTT Ltd; KP Associates Consortium, Studied Geotechnics,Newcastle Upon Tyne University,UK,1981, Graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka; commented: "Uncommon flood in uncommon places. After uncommon expenditure the gods are becoming angry".

However, "with the governor's reaction and constitution of the Etido Inyang led committee, the people can be sure of timely intervention of the uncommon flood in the state", said Ubong Fabian, department of Geography and Regional Planning, UNIUYO

Source: Henshaw NYONG, Uyo