An apex sociocultural organization in Ekid nation, Ekid Union has cried out to Governor Udom Emmanuel over the neglect of Eket and Esit Eket local government areas in the development agenda of the state government.

The group laments that inspite of the fact that Eket and Esit Eket are core oil-producing areas contributing to nation’s oil wealth; they have continued to be unfairly treated.

In a communique issued at the end of its national congress at Udo Edukere Council Hall, Uquo in Esit Eket on Tuesday, the group noted that Eket and Esit Eket have been neglected and deprived of key infrastructure especially roads.

The communique signed by the group’s president, Professor Asindi Asindi and chairman Planning Committee of the congress, Professor Des Wilson, the group listed the woes and pains suffered by the Ekid nation.

“The story of Ekid Nation as far as oil exploration is concerned has been a litany of woes and pains.

“The people of Ekid, over the years, have suffered painfully from environmental degradation, resource depletion and deprivation as well as biodiversity losses arising from continuous gas flaring, incessant oil spillage with very low access to the benefits of oil and gas exploration in their land. This situation is very appalling and pathetic.

“The people of Ekid are not unmindful of the sincere developmental strides of the state governor generally, but the union observed with reservations the slow pace of infrastructural development of Eket and Esit Eket LGAs specifically in the area of roads, and wish to state that Ekid Nation, in spite of its contributions, is a deprived nation through denial of infrastructure.

“Virtually all roads in Eket, which is the headquarters of Akwa Ibom South senatorial district, are in very deplorable conditions. The union appeals to the state government to facilitate the renewal of Eket, and rehabilitate the bad roads in the area as it remains a gateway to the international community through oil companies doing business in the land”, it said.

The group further called on the State government to construct a ring road connecting the four local government areas of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno which the primary oil producing areas in the state.

It observed that the the coastal rail line originally designed to pass through Eket to Oron had been mutilated, adding that the route out of Eket senatorial district has been diverted.

On the East-West road, the group said, “It is most unfortunate that Section IV of the East-West road, which runs through Eket Urban has been abandoned. The Ekid people people are demanding and calling on the Federal government for immediate completion of the road, disliked as stipulated by the original contract agreement “. (Daily Independent)

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