Confidence Ihechi

Time and time again, promises were made. Time and yet, time and again, ‘work’ started, but the Uyo Township Stadium remains the same: an abandoned and decaying edifice. For many years,  the stadium served as the pride of Akwa Ibom. It was the homeground of local club, Akwa United. It also served as an event ground for the Christmas carol celebration which draws people from all parts of the state and some tourist attractions for residents. All these are now gone.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has flagged-off the reconstruction of the Uyo Township Stadium, including the construction of a swimming pool. This comes barely a month after UDEME reported on the sordid condition of the stadium which used to host quality sporting events and other high-value ceremonies in the state, like the famed Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol Festival. UDEME’s visit to the stadium in September revealed the stemming from many years of neglect.

The first time Freeman Joshua sought medical attention at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital was in 2018. Increasing chest pain, which started unannounced, made the 48-year-old site labourer pay an unplanned visit to the hospital. Mr Joshua said instead of being treated, he was kept waiting outside the emergency unit for hours without being attended to. “I thought they were going to respond to my case immediately, but I was asked to wait and sit outside while waiting for the doctor.