The new 225m span Ntak Inyang Bridge and the 60.43km Calabar-Itu Highway has been opened for traffic. Motorists plying the road are now free to use the new bridge. The State Governor, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio who was accompanied by his deputy, Obong Nsima Ekere, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Eld.) Sam Ikon and the Secretary to the State Government, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, shortly after their swearing-in, performed the inauguration of the project awarded to Messrs Julius Berger in November 2007.

The Governor said the inauguration of the Ntak Inyang Bridge which links the dualized carriage-way from Ikot Oku Ikono Junction will give succor and relief to Akwa Ibom people and all the commuters plying the road. Governor Akpabio expressed delight that the job met the scheduled date and thanked the construction giant, Messrs Julius Berger for doing a wonderful job and prayed that anyone passing through the bridge will not have accident.

The Chairman of Itu Local Government Area, Hon. Michael James Etim on behalf of the people of Itu, thanked the Governor for inaugurating the project; noting that he has fulfilled his promise to the people of Itu.

It can be recalled that the Calabar-Itu Highway being one of the oldest in the country was abandoned for many years. At a point, motorists coming to Uyo from Calabar, had to go through Ikot Ekpene. During his first term electioneering campaign, the Governor promised to award a contract for the construction of the road.  Being a Federal Government responsibility & coupled with the huge financial implication involved in the project, the Akpabio administration has once again proven his stand as the “True Apostle of Uncommon Transformation”.

In Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Governor Akpabio also inaugurated the 14.8km Oko Ita – Nsai – Use Ikot Amama road project completed with street lights. The new road project which provides access road in Ibiono’s difficult hilly terrain as executed by AEC Works Limited is part of the contract for the construction of Nung Udoe Itak – Use Ikot Amama – Ibiaku Ikot Esifa section 2 road awarded in 2008. Chief Akpabio promised the people of Ibiono Ibom that Government will carry out two major interventions by linking Use Ikot Amama with Ikot Esifa and also construct the road leading to the Paramount Ruler’s Palace in the area. He assured them that he will keep to the promise made to them during the electioneering campaigns.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Local Government, Obong Godwin Ekpo, expressed his joy and thanked the Governor for coming to their rescue. He stated that the effect of good access roads to the socio-economic development of the people cannot be over-emphasized. On behalf of the people, the Chairman once again pledged their unalloyed loyalty to the Government of His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio as he continues his good works for another four years.