Date Published: 07/12/10
Dear Editor,
Re: President Jonathan's visit to Akwa Ibom
According to Akwa Ibom governor, President Goodluck Jonathan would visit the State on July 14th 2010; to commission some projects.
As the President commissions the Ibom Airport, he should seek to find out if the present government received the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) equipment aspect of the airport (the money-yielding aspect of the project), which the past administration claimed it paid 100% upfront for; the commercial flight operations aspect is secondary and not money-yielding. He should also find out which aspect made the present administration increase the cost of the project by US$52million.
President Jonathan should commission the ‘digital’ new government house project, which the existed was pulled down and N6.5billion spent in rebuilding; this fund could have been channelled towards other needy areas. He should commission the flyovers (if any is ready) and encourage the government to say what the costs were, as till date such remains shrouded in secrecy. He should commission the road constructions and ask to know in practical terms how it was possible for a kilometre of road on a dry land costs between N800million and N1billion, as it were. The Akwa Ibom government claimed for umpteenth time that it has carried out a total of N110billion on State roads and N81billion on Federal roads, within three years; in such a tiny State? It should be recalled that recently the federal government embarked on constructing an expressway highway between Nigeria and Cameroun at a cost less than N300million per kilometre. He should commission the first phase of the controversial N33billion Tropicana Entertainment Centre, which Governor Akpabio advertised should be ready by March, 2010 and to provide 5,000 jobs for our youths.
The President should not be deceived into commissioning (again) the Ikot-Abasi Independent Power Project, which former President Obasanjo commissioned at about 90% completion early 2007; but if the 43kilometre Power Evacuation Line which was one of the ongoing aspects then has now been executed, he should commission such. Mr. President, you are welcome.
Obong Okon Emerson
95 Awolowo Way
IKEJA, Lagos State
okonemerson83@yahoo.com
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