Relief is coming the way of residents of Ikot Ebo, Etinan Local Government Area work on the community’s drainage nearing completion.
The residents are especially happy that the development will see the end of the perennial flooding of the community, which they have been contending with for almost 100 years.
The Village Head of Ikot Ebo community, Obong Dennis Akpan told the Niger Delta Trust that the protracted flooding has sacked many households in the past.
Akpan, said he was happy that in only four months, the project is almost halfway completed as a result of the government’s intervention, adding that it was a thing of joy for the whole community to see the problem being solved.
He thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for undertaking the project, noting that his community is the major beneficiary.
“The whole village is happy with Governor Emmanuel for the biggest project ever in a single village. In only four months, the project is almost halfway completed. We owe him our total loyalty, support and trust.
“This problem has been with us for as long as this village has been in existence, over 100 years. Successive administrations in the state have tried but could not salvage the situation. Many households have been submerged and sacked as a result of flood issue,s” he said.
The Site Engineer of the project, Mr. David Idara, said the drainage became necessary since the road leading to Ikot Ebo was tied to the Etinan Roundabout, which is on an elevated ground, and as such, causes the depressed section to be flooded during the rainy season.
“We needed to look for a way to flush out the water that has been disturbing the area for ages. Etinan Bridge was too far and would have cost so much, so we decided on this drainage project.
“There is still so much to be done. Going down a bit, you will notice that the place is submerged, so we are going to fence the area to avoid children from falling inside and also avoid people dumping refuse to block the drains. The place is almost three metres deep. It is very deep,” he explained.
Idara said the project is expected to be completed before the end of this year.
