Jonathan commissions 4th longest bridge in Nigeria, commends Akwa Ibom government
By Dennis Udo-Udoma, Uyo
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday commissioned more than 50 years old Afi-Uko Ntehe Bridge project in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, commending Governor Udom Emmanuel for the visionary leadership in the state.
The 1.15 Km road project is the 4th longest bridge in the country and 1st in the South-South region of the country.
Jonathan, who emphasised on the usefulness of a bridge as a link between communities, expressed delight on the achievements recorded by the state government in providing sucour to the people and ending the perennial suffering of the residents of the area.
He said, “This bridge is very useful. Let me commend the Governor very sincerely and his team for this visionary leadership. I am really delighted to be here again to once more bear witness to the considerable development strides being recorded in Akwa Ibom State.
“What I see whenever I visit Akwa Ibom is a substantial evidence of well structured, good promoting projects.
“In the past seven and half years, my younger brother, His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel is the one who has been serving as enabler to all we are seeing.
“His strategic development plan has delivered great dividends to the people of this great state.
“Today we are here again to commissíon a special project which, like Governor Udom’s other projects is designed to promote economic growth, and improve the lives of the people.”
The excited ex-president while eulogising Governor Udom for delivering his capacity in building bridges to link several communities in the state noted that, “this particular bridge we are commissioning today is a flagship project, and of course, we have been told that it is the fourth longest bridge in the country.”
According to him, “The most unique thing is that, it is the longest bridge ever built by a state government. It takes somebody with total commitment to improving the quality of life of his people to embark on such project.
“Four months ago when Akwa Ibom turned 35 years as a state, I was here to participate in the anniversary celebration. I noted then that Governor Emmannuel had great projects that directly impact the lives of the people in a very remarkable way.
“I was not surprised when he was recently honoured by a media organization as a governor with the best ‘Economic Blueprint’ in the country.
“Governor Emmannuel is a leader whose significant development has given hope and confidence to our democracy. Gov. Emmanuel does not build physical bridges alone, he also builds human and social bridges.”
The host, Governor Emmanuel in his remarks, appreciated Goodluck Jonathan for coming to commissíon the bridge noting that, the project is a significant milestone of his administration because, it opens up the area as a solution hub for oil and gas, the industrial city for our people and for the entirety of Nigerians.
“A country that produces the quantity of gas that we produce, and does not have an industrial city is not ready for development.”
