In a strategic move to enhance the infrastructural outlook of Awi Trailer Park, the Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government Council, Hon. (Ophot) Felix Akposi KSJI, has commenced the construction of twelve lock-up stores to replace the makeshift shanties scattered around the park. The initiative marks a significant step towards urban renewal in the area, reinforcing the council’s commitment to structured commercial development.
Speaking to our correspondent, the Supervisor for Works and Infrastructure, Elder Abednego Okon, decried the unorganised state of the park, noting that the cluster of shanties had defaced the environment. He assured that the council would work closely with the Supervisor of Environment to ensure a befitting transformation of the park and its adjoining market axis.
“I recall that towards the end of last year, there was a public hearing on the elevation of Akamkpa to an urban centre, with about ten communities earmarked for this transition—Awi being one of them. Incidentally, we are kickstarting the first phase of preparatory works in Awi, given its strategic importance,” Okon stated.
He further emphasised that Awi’s developmental trajectory has been reinforced by the recent upgrade of the Cross River State College of Education to a University of Education and Entrepreneurial Studies by Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu. He noted that the Chairman’s infrastructural drive aligns with this elevation, ensuring that Awi enjoys corresponding urban development. “The twelve lock-up stores are just the beginning; we will extend this intervention across the entire park to give it a complete infrastructural facelift,” he assured.
Awi Trailer Park serves as a critical hub for articulated vehicles transporting materials from quarry sites within Akamkpa, playing a pivotal role in the state’s economic activities. Further investigations reveal that the facility has significantly decongested the Calabar-Ikom Highway, mitigating the perennial traffic challenges previously encountered along the axis.
The ongoing facelift is expected to bring order and aesthetic refinement to the park while fostering a more organised commercial environment. Observers believe that the introduction of standardised lock-up stores will boost revenue generation, improve security for traders, and enhance the overall functionality of the park.
Stakeholders within the locality have lauded the initiative, describing it as a progressive step towards modernising Akamkpa’s commercial hubs. Many expressed optimism that the intervention will set the stage for further infrastructural advancements across other strategic locations within the local government area.
With this development, Hon. Felix Akposi’s administration is reaffirming its commitment to structured growth and economic empowerment, ensuring that Akamkpa’s urbanisation blueprint is not just a policy framework but a visible reality on the ground.
