Otobong Nsekpong
At a meeting with key opposition leaders in Etinan local government area on the 8th of November 2024,the counci chairman, Hon Uko Umoh, informed them of plan by the the council to build an ultra modern motor park in Etinan.
This cheery news was received with applauses from the audience . True to his word, construction work at the site of the proposed motor park started six months ago and at 90% level of completion,it stands as an enduring legacy of Hon Uko Umoh’s administration in Etinan local government area.
Located at the premises of the old motor park along Uyo road, the new motor park comes with every modern facility to make one comfortable while on a journey including a ramp for people living with disabilities.
It has two toilet and a bathroom each for male and female passengers. It also has a lost but found store where missing items will be kept. There is a borehole with overhead tanks in place to distribute water within the premises as well as solar panel security light to illuminate the premises at night
There is also a drive way that is fully asphalted with drains on both sides to evacuate water to the high way where there are deeper gutters to receive the water. There is a perimeter fence round the premises and at the main entrance, there is a gate house to be completed with a separate toilet as well.
There area designated places for parking of private cars as well as town service taxis, mini buses and motorcycles.
A 10 car pavilion has also been erected to accommodate the ten routes of Lagos, Abuja, Onitsha, Aba, Ibeno, Port Harcourt, Bayelsa, Calabar, Benin and Uyo.
The ultra modern park is not only an aesthetic design to behold along the Etinan- Uyo express way but it will be place of comfort for travellers.
It will also be a major source of revenue source to the local government council.
With facilities such as lock up stores, a ware house, car wash, public toilet as well as an increase in the number of routes to be plied from the park, it is expected to rake in five to 10 million naira yearly.
Again, apart from improving the revenue profile of the council, this laudable initiative by the Uko Umoh’s administration will also guarantee safety of commuters both from accidents and criminals.
It is important to note that following the non functioning of the former motor park established by the Late Hon Bassey Okon Ekong’s administration, commuters now board vehicles by the road side where they are exposed risk of infraction and accident due to obstruction on the high way.
On the other hand, many commuters have been duped and robbed of valuables because the boarded an unregistered commercial vehicle by the road side.
The construction of the motor park has also created jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers from Etinan local government area.
Speaking exclusively with the Chief Security Officer of Greenfield Construction handling the motor park project, Comrade Otobong Emmanuel Nelson, affirmed the project to have generational impact on the economy of the local government .
According to him, for over 20 years, the people of Etinan have not seen a project of this magnitude embarked upon by the Council saying, ” the project is bigger than what a local government council can handle”.
“For a very long time, there was nothing to identify Etinan with but the motor park will become a reference point when people talk about the local government.
“Hon Uko Umoh has rewritten the story of Etinan local government and will be remembered many years after his tenure had ended” he added.
The ongoing construction of an ultra modern Motor Park is a raw demonstration of determination, zeal and willingness to drive development back to Etinan local government area.
So far, he has taken bold and courageous steps toward creating a new image for the 40 year old local government and it is incumbent on the people to rally round this agent of positive development and give him the needed support he deserves to attract more development to the area.
