Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, is set to commission a 1.1km access road with a newly constructed bridge leading to Gorreti Girls Secondary School in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. The bridge, which had collapsed over eight years ago, was restored as part of the governor’s ARISE Agenda, aimed at improving infrastructure across the state.
Dr. Essien Ndueso, Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, conducted journalists around the project site on Thursday, ahead of the official commissioning. He emphasized that Governor Eno’s intervention was crucial in ensuring the safety of students and the community, as many parents had previously been reluctant to send their children to the school due to the hazardous conditions.
“The bridge linking the road to the school collapsed years ago, leaving students vulnerable to accidents as they attempted to cross the ravine separating the school from the main road,” Ndueso said. “Thanks to the ARISE Agenda, the road has been fully restored, and the governor will be commissioning it tomorrow.”
Ndueso also highlighted the governor’s commitment to empowering local contractors, noting that U&K Limited, an indigenous construction firm, executed the project. The company’s Managing Director, Engr. Ukeme Eyo Peters, praised the transformation, noting that the road was in a deplorable state when his company took on the contract.
Read also: Warri South move to end flooding with major canal clearing project
“We were given six months to deliver the project, but we completed it within five months. The 1.1km road and the new bridge now provide safe and reliable access for both the students and the community,” Peters said.
The lack of access had previously forced parents to withdraw their children from Gorreti Girls Secondary School. Mr. Itoro Moses, the school’s compound master, confirmed that the poor condition of the road had led to a significant drop in student enrollment over the past five years.
“With the road now completed, we expect an increase in the school’s population, as parents will feel more confident sending their children here,” Moses stated, expressing gratitude to Governor Eno for the life-changing project.
One of the students, Miss Esther John, who dreams of becoming a lawyer, expressed her relief and gratitude. “I’m from Abia State, and my parents almost withdrew me from this school because of the road. But I held onto hope, and today, I thank the governor for making that hope a reality,” she said.
