IKONO LOCAL GOVT PARTNERS UNIVERSAL ENERGY ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

By Prince Bassey

As part of efforts towards consolidating on his monumental strides in the last 12 months as Transition Chairman, the Itoro Columba-led Transition Committee
of Ikono Local Government Council have perfected plans to partner Universal Energy, a leading indigenous exploration and production company in constructing a standard borehole facility for the people of Nung Udoe Itak in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking during an inspection to the facility site on Tuesday, the Ikono Local Government Transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Itoro Columba , hinted that the borehole facility was part of his efforts towards complementing other projects he attracted to the community even before his appointment as Transition Committee Chairman of the council.

According to Mr. Columba , the project when completed will provide clean, safe and portable water to the community and its environs, which go in tandem with his desire to positively impact on the lives of the people of Ntippe Ibibio by attracting such projects to the Local
Government Area.

He urged the indigenes of the community to give the company the maximum support and cooperation to ensure that the project was completed within the stipulated time-frame, expressing belief that the community will maintain and protect the facility from vandalization after completion.

Expounding further on the benefits of the project, the Project Consultant and MD, Idemas Nigeria Limited, Mr. Idongesit Raphael, said the borehole facility was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of Universal Energy
to communities in Akwa Ibom State.

He revealed that the facility when completed has the capacity of providing
10,000 liters of water to the community daily, adding that the company will provide the community with a generating set to ensure that the borehole facility
provides water to the community at all times, while soliciting for the maximum cooperation of the host community to ensure prompt take-off and completion of the project.

Responding on behalf of the Community, Chief Dominic Columba, the family Head of Ikot Obiom who represented the Village Head of Nung Udoe Itak, showered encomiums on the Transition Chairman for attracting the project to
the community which according to him was timely.

He appreciated Universal Energy for considering the community for the project, assuring them of their unflinching support and cooperation throughout the project execution.

Those who also spoke included the Village Council Chairman, Chief Peter Anwewen, the Village Youth President, Mr Nsikak Ikpe who corroborated the stance of the Village Head.