… Appeals for soft loans/grant for transport operators in the State
By Imoh Essien
A transport Icon and the Director General of Transport Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Hon. Maurice Edet, has lauded the State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, for his tremendous developmental strides in the transportation sector of the state.
Obong Hon. Edet stated this while interacting with newsmen over the weekend in Uyo, the state capital.
Obong Hon. Maurice Edet, a former Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area and currently a State Officer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), took time to unequivocally highlight the landmark legacies of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D., in the transportation sector across the state. He asserted that the recent acquisition and delivery of CNG buses by the governor, aimed at easing the cost of transportation and ensuring the effective movement of people within the state, is worthy of commendation.
He specifically lauded the governor for the construction of a jetty in Oron and the provision of two ferries to facilitate water transportation in the state.
The Eduek of Uyo further praised Pastor Umo Eno for the conversion of the Oron maritime sector into a modern marine transportation hub in the South-South region, which also serves as a tourist attraction and a source of revenue generation for the state.
He emphatically saluted the resolve of the present administration to provide gunboats to checkmate the activities of criminals in Akwa Ibom State’s waterways. Furthermore, he commended the state governor for his doggedness and commitment to service delivery for the Akwa Ibom people, as encapsulated in his ARISE Agenda. He maintained that the present administration, led by Pastor Umo Eno, has graciously constructed 1,400 km of roads and 40 bridges across the state within three years of the administration—a first in the history of the state. He expressed optimism that these legacies recorded by the governor portray him as a five-star performer.
‘ The State Governor is a five star performer, he has been able to construct more than 1400 km road and 40 bridges across the State, first time for a governor to achieved that under 3 years. It is unprecedented ” , he said.
Obong Hon. Maurice Edet seized the opportunity to commend the State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Anthony Luke, for his efforts to effectively coordinate, supervise, and interpret the policies and programs of the state government in the transport sector. He also commended the Chief Delivery Advisor to the Governor on Transport Matters, Hon. Orman Esin, for ensuring the timely delivery of government programs and projects in the transport sector.
The transport icon solicited and appealed to the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to involve actual transport operators in the implementation of his ongoing, lofty transport projects to realize their set objectives across the 31 LGAs of the state.
He pleaded with the governor to rehabilitate the abandoned, modern, government-approved motor parks at Nung Oku and the Itam industrial layout to serve as a hub for transport operators who handle inter- and intra-state routes. He also called on the government to revisit the abandoned bus stop terminals in the Uyo capital city to sanitize transport management and enhance service delivery.
The former council chairman appealed to the state governor for assistance for transport operators in the state, explaining that soft loans and grants would help them readjust to the demands of the CNG conversion process. He also appealed for the construction of modern, heavy-duty truck parks across the state to reduce road traffic and accidents. He further passionately urged the governor to relocate the moribund Mechanic Village to its approved permanent site at Ikot Oku Ikono in Uyo Local Government Area.
” I sincerely want to use this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D, he is a listening Governor, to please assist transport operators within the State with soft loans or grant, so as to enhance them with the process of conversion from fuel to CNG” , Obong Hon. Edet said.
Obong Hon. Maurice Edet commended the leadership of transport unions and associations for their resilience and steadfastness in the face of economic hardship, assuring them of better days ahead under Pastor Umo Eno’s administration in the state. He also assured the governor of their unalloyed loyalty and support.