Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Works Ephraim Inyang, Performes More Than Predecessor Don Etim .

Osondu Ahirika

The Road not taken, is the title of a poem written by a modernist, American poet, Robert Frost. In the said poem, the speaker stands in the woods, looking at a fork in the road. He finds himself in a dilemma of which path to take as both ways are equally worn and overlaid with un-trodden leaves.
Amidst the consideration, the speaker chooses one way to go. He consoles himself, that, he will take the other road another day. Yet he knows it is unlikely that he will have the opportunity to do so. Inside him, he believes his action will ultimately prove to be defensible, in that, he opted for the less-traveled road.
Roberts Frost's poem, may surmise the ongoing repositioning and redirection of the Ministry of Work's, Akwa Ibom State under the leadership of Commissioner Ephraim Inyangeyen.

After several encounters, interviews and working tour of Road construction sites with Mr Inyangeyen and his team, I came off with the conclusion that, he is taking the Ministry and doing his work, through the road not taken by his predecessors. How do I mean?
Since Mr Inyangeyen was appointed Commissioner for Works by His Excellency, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, on July 7, 2015, he has introduced a new charter for the Ministry. In its operations and delivery of services, a radical, but proactive departure from the status quo has been on manifest display. Evolving in that venture, new methodology for achieving his masters dreams.
Let me highlight them. There is a change in the way compensation's are paid for property affected by road redevelopment, expansion, dualization or construction. In the new regime, the valuer is independent of the exchequer. After valuation of property, the payment is handled by a different emissary not known by, or recommended by the designated valuer. This leaves no chance for collaboration to fleece Government through sharp practices. Beneficiaries of the compensation packages are then given their cheques in person and openly before newsmen, with biometric verification. Nobody is shortchanged and underpaid or defrauded of his/her due.
It was never like that hitherto. The new system has eliminated litigations and petitions, that usually crippled such exercise in the past, almost to zero level. It is a new road never taken before.

In a recent Radio interview, a storm brewed as some people misquoted the Works Commissioner, with insinuations that he was condemning former Governor Godswill Akpabio. Here is what he said that, sparked controversy. "You don't need to study geography and regional planning to know that Nsikak Eduok, , Udo Udoma, IBB Avenue and other roads needed wide gutters on both sides during construction to enable proper channeling of water and good drainage whenever it rains..." This was what Hon Ephraim Inyangeyen said on that radio interview in response to nagging questions on the perennial flooding of those areas. He explained that, Government was looking at how to remedy that past oversight and create drainages to deflood the capital city.

He was misquoted as condemning the administrations that built those roads. In my understanding, having been part of that interview, Inyangeyen was simply saying, in conclusion that, the Udom administration will learn from that experience and never build any road without drainages. That, is a road not taken in the early development of the state and which has caused structural problems now. He lauded the underground drains and the drainage channel, running from Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard to Obot Idim stream, constructed by the Akpabio administration, with a pledge to finish it off at the discharge end which is 600metres short. I deem that laudable.
In Road construction, this era has taken and inverted approach. The roads are emphasized from the rural areas out. This is a road not taken in the past as most roads were in urban centres. Commissioner Inyangeyen says, the goal now, is to link up all parts of the state and build roads in council areas which were neglected.
He named such to include, Oron, Uruan, Ini, Ikono, Oruk Anam, Mkpat Enin, Obot Akara, Onna, Eket, Etinan and Nsit Atai. Even at that, all other council areas will not be ignored as some work is ongoing in several places, including Uyo.
I saw the wisdom in this, given my eye witness account, when Commissioner Inyangeyen paid a visit to Nung Obong/ Mbio Ekene bridge in Nsit Ubuim Local Government, which connects to East West Road. The bridge was reported to have collapsed on August 10, 2010. The past six years, has been difficult for the villages and citizens cut-off by that mishap. If the deterioration of the bridge or its eventual crash was ever brought to the attention of previous Governments, we can't safely tell. Beyond his scope to intervene and handle, the Commissioner promised to inform the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for a permanent solution, since the situation is above the remedial intervention he intended.
The pathetic condition of those adjoining villages in Nsit Ubium is the same tale of woes for the users of the now devastated Obot Akara/Umuahia road. The commerce in that area has become a headache. The two states have been virtually segregated from each other by the very badly dilapidated road and collapsed bridges.
Good to note, Governor Emmanuel had given a buffer that has salvaged the situation. This came for the people in the 6.4 Kilometre alternative route called Nto Edino/ Ekwerre Azu road.
When we toured that road, the Works Commissioner, who also inspected the on-going construction work, showered praise on SEYANG Construction Company; for their commitment and the standard of work done.
As you may want to know, SEYANG is an indigenous company. We call them Local contractors. Mr Inyangeyen has shocked onlookers by investing confidence in the so-called Local contractors, including BENEST Construction, HENSEK and VERINI.
Those were not names we have been accustomed with, such as Julius Berger, Nigerpet, Mothercat, Setraco, CCEC, Zerock etc.
In the last decade or more, engaging the local contractors for major construction projects was a road not taken. They were pilloried as half-baked, ill-equipped and incapable of handling big jobs. The companies simply folded up, wilted away, or sort greener pastures elsewhere. Alas, they are back to life and roaring. We understand, they even execute and complete projects by sourcing their own capital, and getting paid later by Government.
Such arrangement, the Ministry says, is a partnership that works. The stress is that, the Government seeks more of such cooperation and partnership with the contractors in the overall interest of the State.
On his part, the Managing Director of SEYANG Construction Company, Engr. Samuel Inyang, who addressed newsmen, appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel for patronizing the indigenous contractors in general, and the choice of his company to handle a work of the magnitude of the Nto edino Ekwerre Azu road linking the two states of Abia and Akwa Ibom, complete with two major bridges, which is at about about 75% completion stage.
Mr Inyang also thanked the Honourable Commissioner and his team for all the encouragement.
Engr. Samuel Inyang assured the State
Government that SEYANG will not fail in its inaugural promise of delivering the project on record time with all it technical components.
Some of those roads undertaken in rural areas, include, the 3.5km Ikot Udom road with 15m span bridges in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Construction of 5km Ikot Usop-Ikot Edeghe-Ikot Ekpuk Road with 30m span bridges in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Construction of the 5km-Mkpok-OkaT Road in Onna Local Area, Emergency works in the completion of outfall and 5 urban streets in Oron, Construction of Ikot Ebekpo - Ikot Ebidang Road in Onna LGA with spur to East-West Road, Construction of Awa Iman-Asong-Ikot Edim-Ikot Emem Road with spur to Onna LGA and Construction/Remodelling of selected Roads, strategic Round-about/Junctions in Eket metropolis (Phases I & II).
There are many other ongoing road projects not listed here in Etinan, Nsit Atai, and others.
As I observe the joy, enthusiasm and appreciative encomiums lavished on Governor Emmanuel for the good works in these far-flung rural communities, I heave a sigh of relief that, Government is an agent for good and should be encouraged to do more, when it does well and is accountable, as well as transparent to/with the public in her dealings.
Let me hasten to add that, the Ministry has also terminated the use of middlemen, and rather directly undertakes the maintenance and operation of street lights in Uyo, Abak, Ikot Ekpene and Oron metropolis. That again is a road not taken before now.
Coming away from these daring roadways taken by Commissioner Inyangeyen, I watch in awe to trace the successes he will record if the end justifies the means. Maybe then, he can beat his chest and repeat the fourth and last stanza of Robert Frost's poem, The Road not taken, which reads, "I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."