Governor Godswill Akpabio says his decision to complete mega projects in Akwa Ibom before 2015 is irreversible.

Chief Akpabio stated this Sunday while inspecting the construction work on the 30,000-capacity Ibom International Stadium, the 275-bed 20th Anniversary Specialist Hospital and the fifth flyover in the state.

The governor, who was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of DAAR Communications (AIT), High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said: “I had a clear vision of what I decided to do for the state as I emerged as Governor in 2007. There had been a fluctuation in crude oil production and prices that affected the revenue base of the state, else we would have done more mega transformation projects.

“Infrastructure is the basic foundation of our state and it also brings in development in any society. So, we had to build mega projects such as the airport and stadium. The stadium has standard facilities that would accommodate both local and international matches.

“So, I have no regret in building mega projects in the state because the people’s money is seen on ground and I also make life more meaningful to the entire country by the building of roads for easy access and I am confident in completing all the on-going projects on ground before my administration is over.”

Governor Akpabio observed that his admintration would have built an underground tunnel from the Ibom International Airport to the Ibaka Seaport, but attributed delay in executing the projects to short time and funds, hoping that the incoming government would collaborate with the Federal Government to complete the projects and disclosed that the underground tunnel was designed by an Italian firm.

At the premises of 20th Anniversary Specialist Hospital, Itam, the governor stated that the hospital would be completed and inaugurated in 2014, and stressed that the new hospital would help check capital flight.

Impressed by the mega projects in the state, Chief Dokpesi said that the country needs rapid development in the country through visionary leaders to provide the dividends of democracy, which he stressed that Governor Akpabio is an exemplary of such a leader.

Dokpesi lauded the governor’s visionary leadership in making the state a foundation of industrialisation, remarking that the stadium is the best in the country and in Africa in terms of its international facilities where African countries would be proud of, saying that the project represents an index of rapid development in the country that has been yearning for committed evolutionary leadership.

He noted Governor Akpabio had shown exemplary leadership in development, which he said all Nigerian Governors should come to Akwa Ibom State to see true leadership and what development can do, saying that the state is laying a foundation for industrialisation.

•Photo shows Governor Akpabio.

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