By Nsikak Akpan
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Environment has commended Governor Umo Eno for the intervention and reclamation project at Uyo Village Road, describing the initiative as a strategic response to the erosion and flooding challenges in the area and a demonstration of the administration’s ARISE Agenda.
The Chairman of the Committee and Member representing Okobo State Constituency, Hon. Bassey Bassey, gave the commendation on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during an oversight inspection of the ongoing Uyo Village Road erosion intervention and reclamation project.
Hon. Bassey said the intervention had addressed a major environmental challenge posed by the ravine and former dumpsite, noting that the reclamation of the area would not only control erosion and flooding but also recover valuable land for future urban development.
He also commended the Managing Director of AMITEC Construction and Development Limited, Engr. Aiman Saimua, for the measures being implemented to arrest the erosion and redirect the flow of stormwater, urging the contractor to contact the House whenever issues requiring legislative intervention arise.
The Committee Chairman stressed the importance of ensuring that the project was executed to the required standards, particularly given its environmental significance and the volume of water that previously flowed into the affected area.
“We want to ensure that the work is properly done and that the erosion does not resurface. If there is any area where the House can assist, do not hesitate to call on us,” he said.
Giving an overview of the project, the Managing Director of AMITEC Construction and Development Limited, Engr. Aiman Saimua, explained that the gully erosion was triggered by heavy rainfall over the past few months, with water from different parts of the city converging on the area.
He said the company, after identifying the source of the problem, commenced remedial works in stages, including blocking affected sections, diverting the water flow, constructing relief drains and reclaiming the eroded areas.
According to him, adequate drainage infrastructure was being provided to ensure that water was properly channelled and prevented from causing further damage.
The project comprises the dualisation of approximately 4.3 kilometres of Uyo Village Road, construction of two bridges and reclamation of the ravine and former dumpsite, with the components designed to complement one another.
Saimua further disclosed that the reclamation exercise would recover more than 150 hectares of land, which the State Government plans to utilise for the development of Uyo Downtown, residential estates and other urban development projects.
The project, provided for in the 2025 State budget, includes the dualisation of 4.30 kilometres of road, construction of two 13-metre by 20-metre span bridges and reclamation of the gullies in the area.
The reclaimed land is expected to support the development of a 150-unit middle-income housing estate, a Government Residential Area, a creative village and other planned developments.
In their separate remarks, members of the Committee commended Governor Eno for the vision to tackle the erosion problem while recovering a substantial expanse of land that would otherwise have remained unusable.
The Lawmakers, however, sought clarification on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been conducted for the project and whether appropriate environmental mitigation measures were being implemented.
They also urged the contractor to ensure that the drainage system effectively redirected the water flow and prevented the erosion from recurring, stressing that no aspect of the project should be taken for granted.
The Committee further charged the contractor to subject the project to the necessary quality tests and controls to guarantee its durability and stability.
Responding, Saimua assured the lawmakers that the project had been designed by qualified engineers and that its durability and stability were guaranteed.
He disclosed that retaining walls would be constructed to prevent further erosion, assuring the people of Akwa Ibom that the project was being executed with the required attention to quality.
The contractor said the project was expected to be completed within the next four months, adding that funding had not been withheld by the State Government.
The Uyo Village Road project is expected to improve road connectivity within the State capital, address the environmental challenges associated with the former dumpsite and erosion-prone areas, and open up reclaimed land for residential, commercial and other urban development purposes.
Also present during the oversight inspection were the Vice Chairman of the Committee and Member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, Hon. Engr. Udobia Udo; Member representing Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency, Hon. Engr. Ubong Attah; Member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency, Hon. Prince Aniefiok Attah; Member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. Moses Essien; and other support staff of the House of Assembly
