Governor Emmanuel’s ‘Completion Agenda’ and the Challenge of COVID-19
Every person across the globe is in the know that, coronavirus disease (covid-19) pandemic had posed not just severe health crisis on the inhabitants of the planet earth, but had to a large extent, posed serious implications for socio-economic growth of nations, thus, an oil rich state like Akwa lbom in Nigeria is not exempted.
Unfortunately, the invasion of this pandamic had exposed our vulnerability, thus, weakened our social cohesion and expression of social discontent. Sadly, quarantines and physical distancing measures, which were needed to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus in order to save lives, had led to months of lockdown thus, stopped most of the activities in the state and as well, led to drastic adjustments in the state budget.
Be that as it were, the loss of income can be said to have affect government programmes in no small way. Nevertheless, despite the major persistent gaps that the pandemic had widened, the Udom Emmanuel-led government in Akwa lbom state has reiterated its administration’s resolve to implement strategically, redistributive-based policies with a rights-based approach, to ensure that no project initiated by this government is left uncompleted.
The Akwa Ibom state Governor has indeed, reaffirmed his government’s determination to complete all the ongoing projects in the state. Hear him; “In line with my second term slogan: ‘Completion Agenda’, I am restating my determination to complete all the ongoing life-touching projects within the lifespan of my administration,” Udom Emmanuel has said.
According to him, funds have been made available to the contractors to ensure completion of all the ongoing projects across the state. In another breathe, the Governor has said thus; ‘the money may be in piece meal due to the challenges posed by coronavirus, as well as the drastic adjustments in the state budget”.
Interestingly, of late, just to offer the Governor the opportunity to see things for himself since the ease of the lockdown, occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic, however, his team has went across local government areas within the state to see the jobs which Governor Emmanuel-led government had awarded and guess what? The level of their compliance and completion is satisfactory.
However, although, there are some little challenges, which are traced to the delay, occasioned by covid-19 pandamic, the state government has appreciated the level of cooperation shown by the contractors. Hopefully, the state government’s intention is to see the projects move towards completion, no matter the challenges.
Nevertheless, contractors handling these projects are actually serious with their work, although the state government has cautioned that, whatever excuses associated with the delay of some of the projects will not henceforth, be tenable, as the state government is bent on meeting the completion deadlines of all ongoing projects within the tenure of this government.
Meanwhile, a cross section of Akwa lbom citizenry are chorusing hosanna, expressing happiness that their prayers for good governance have been answered through Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Nevertheless, though. contractors have promised to deliver these projects within record time, hence, at this juncture therefore, l want to issue an injunction, and this injunction is nothing other than, continuous support for Governor Emmanuel-led administration so that these projects can be inaugurated before the expiration of this government. I rest my case!
#Please Keep A Date With JOSEPH ATHANASIUS Next Week Tuesday
#See You Then!
