Communal crisis stalls Akwa Ibom dam construction

The Cross River Basin Development Authority said on Tuesday that protracted communal crisis stalled the construction of Nkari Dam, a Federal Government project.

The General Manager of the Authority, Mr Mfon Essien, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Tuesday.

'I know that many people have died because of the communal crisis in Nkari clan over the dam project, including the former contractor.

'You can confirm this from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; I know that two years ago, we were still grappling with the compensation issue.

'It is not true that the project was abandoned in 2004; the community had been troublesome and turbulent,' Essien said.

In a separate interview, a community leader, Chief Edet Etim, alleged that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had abandoned the project since 2004.

NAN reports that the dam, which covers an estimated land mass of 37 hectares, was meant to provide water for irrigation and for domestic use.

The project was also envisaged to help check flood as well as provide facilities for fishing.

Meanwhile, construction on another dam project facilitated by Sen.Ita Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North East, is still ongoing.

NAN learnt that the contract was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N996 million by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The project, known as the Itu/Ibiono Dam Project, was designed to provide potable water and boost agricultural production in the state.

The project being handled by AMBIS Engineering Services, would store about two million cubic litres of water at completion. NAN