Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, has issued a directive for the relocation of the Chinese company, Golden Tripod Limited, currently situated along Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo. The relocation is to take place at the Ibom Industrial Park located in Itam, within the Itu Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Eno has additionally instructed the Commissioner of Environment and the Commissioner of Internal Security to conduct a thorough investigation into the operations of the said company. They are required to furnish a comprehensive report within a span of 48 hours.
During the inauguration of the construction for a 2.2km Tabernacle Road project adjacent to Ikot Ekpene Road on Thursday, Governor Eno emphasized that the placement of factories in the heart of a city was not appropriate. He cited reports in his possession that pointed to significant emissions originating from the factory.
“Commissioner for Environment and Commissioner for Internal Security, I want to have a report on what this factory manufactures in the next 48 hours.
“I understand that there are always serious emissions around here. Please first of all find out what they do and immediately relocate them to the industrial park. It is not proper to cite factories in the middle of a city,” the governor stated.
Governor Eno, while encouraging investors to utilize the industrial park, provided assurance that the government’s recent innovations would establish a conducive setting for industries to flourish within the park.
“That park has been partitioned into one hundred and fifty plots of between four thousand and five thousand square meters.
“What we are saying is that those who are ready to establish industries should come and analyze the kind of industry they intend to create. They will tell us the time frame and the number of people that will be employed, and we will then allocate land for them.
“We are going to fence it around. We will put a police station there, we are going to get a power station to be there, we will make water available too. It will be like any industrial park anywhere in the world so that when we look at your project, we can allocate land for you there,” he added.
Speaking on the Tabernacle Road project, Gov Eno said, “It was your desire to have a Government that will come and remember the poor and rural dwellers. That is the kind of Government you voted for. This is that dividend of Democracy I promised you. We have come here to thank all the Uyo and Itu people who supported us during the election.”
Providing a comprehensive overview of the Tabernacle Road project, Professor Eno Ibanga, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, highlighted that this initiative encompasses more than just road construction. He emphasized that the project holds significant importance as a substantial anti-flooding endeavor aimed at reclaiming the entire area. The ultimate outcome of this undertaking, he emphasized, will bring much-needed relief to the residents of Uyo and Itu Local Government Areas.
Professor Ibanga further explained that the 2.2km road development will be complemented by a 0.97 km subterranean drainage system designed to discharge into the drainage of the Calabar-Itu road. He reassured everyone of his Ministry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the contractors adhere strictly to the specifications outlined by the state government, ensuring the project’s successful delivery.
