The Akwa Ibom multi-billion erosion project was aimed at tackling flooding. But our Correspondent, GODSWILL ODIONG , who moved from one village to another investigating, interviewing stakeholders and taking relevant photographs reports that it has turned around to kill almost all streams in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
Consequently, the suffering people experienced untold hardship while Anyang Nsit, the deity is angry and homeless.
Many people in Akwa Ibom state were delighted when the former governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio mooted the idea to construct the Dominic Utuk Ravine outfall flood channel and erosion control project for some reasons.
First, the project was targeted at ending flooding in Uyo, the state capital. Many parts of Uyo, especially Idoro, Itam and Ikot Ekpene roads used to be highly flooded whenever it rained.
Second, the technology – the pipe jacking or micro-tunnelling – adopted for the project was also thought to be very suitable, particularly as it was expected to channel water into well lubricated pipelines buried 40 metres under the ground, passing through the discharge drain at Ekim Itam-Ikot Oku road, Uyo.
But investigations in Afia Nsit, Nduo Eduo Nsit, Mbiokporo Nsit, Ikot Ofiok Nsit, Ukat Nsit, Ikot Oku Nsit, Ekpene Ikpan Nsit, Obo Urua Nsit, Ede Obom Nsit, Oboyo Ikot Ita, Mbiakot Nsit, Oboetuk Nsit, Obo Atai, Ayam Nsit and Okwo Nsit showed that barely 12 years after, the project has culminated in the contamination and drying up of many streams in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
It showed that the streams
which supported many activities, especially domestic, agricultural and
commercial, from very early times, started ‘dying’ soon after the coming
on stream of the project, apparently because they were interlinked or
interconnected.
A visit to the streams, or where they used to be, showed that in most cases, the streams were no longer in existence. In some cases, the sparkling streams have become mere stagnant waters and brownish in colour with the villagers who have no option, complaining of different ailments after drinking them.
Sad reality
The pathetic situation has attracted the comments of many indigenes. For instance, Eteidung Okon James Udoaka, Chairman Conference of Village Heads, Nsit Ibom Chapter, indicated that: ‘’we were born to see these streams over a long period of time. We used it from infant. Our forefathers used these streams, but this development has brought untold hardship to us. It is like our lives have been taken away.”
Eteidung Udoaka is not alone. Eteidung Ezekiel Ben Inyang, Village Head, Ekpene Ikpan Nsit, disclosed that: “Our streams used to be free flowing running water. A stream, as we were taught, is clean because it flows and washes dirt. Now it is stagnant, muddy and dirty.
“In other words, water should be colourless, odourless and tasteless, but that is not the case with our streams today. Our most treasured asset has been taken away.’’
Also, Elder Emah Bassey Essien, Chairman, Village Council, Ayam Nsit, stated that: “we continue to make use of the contaminated stream because we have no choice or option. Our people continue to go to streams, especially in the morning and evening even when the water is not clean. We drink mud water.
The young men have complained about eye pains and other ailments. It is by the mercy of God that we survive.”
A student, who gave his name as Ezekiel Monday Effiong, added that: ‘’very early in the morning, I will wake up and go to stream to wash my clothes, bath and fetch clean water for my parents. Now, if you are going to the stream, you cannot bath or do anything because it is dirty. But we still use the water because we don’t have another choice or option.’’
A few public boreholes in some communities have been over-grown by weeds, suggesting abandonment.
Inemesit Eyo Edet, a mother of seven children from Ikot Ofiok Nsit, said, “we
A visit to the streams, or where they used to be, showed that in most cases, the streams were no longer in existence. In some cases, the sparkling streams have become mere stagnant waters and brownish in colour with the villagers who have no option, complaining of different ailments after drinking them.
Sad reality
The pathetic situation has attracted the comments of many indigenes. For instance, Eteidung Okon James Udoaka, Chairman Conference of Village Heads, Nsit Ibom Chapter, indicated that: ‘’we were born to see these streams over a long period of time. We used it from infant. Our forefathers used these streams, but this development has brought untold hardship to us. It is like our lives have been taken away.”
Eteidung Udoaka is not alone. Eteidung Ezekiel Ben Inyang, Village Head, Ekpene Ikpan Nsit, disclosed that: “Our streams used to be free flowing running water. A stream, as we were taught, is clean because it flows and washes dirt. Now it is stagnant, muddy and dirty.
“In other words, water should be colourless, odourless and tasteless, but that is not the case with our streams today. Our most treasured asset has been taken away.’’
Also, Elder Emah Bassey Essien, Chairman, Village Council, Ayam Nsit, stated that: “we continue to make use of the contaminated stream because we have no choice or option. Our people continue to go to streams, especially in the morning and evening even when the water is not clean. We drink mud water.
The young men have complained about eye pains and other ailments. It is by the mercy of God that we survive.”
A student, who gave his name as Ezekiel Monday Effiong, added that: ‘’very early in the morning, I will wake up and go to stream to wash my clothes, bath and fetch clean water for my parents. Now, if you are going to the stream, you cannot bath or do anything because it is dirty. But we still use the water because we don’t have another choice or option.’’
A few public boreholes in some communities have been over-grown by weeds, suggesting abandonment.
Inemesit Eyo Edet, a mother of seven children from Ikot Ofiok Nsit, said, “we
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