In Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, the communities of Ntak Obio Akpa, Ikot Okoro, and Ikot Akpan have taken to the streets in a peaceful protest, expressing their displeasure over an alleged alteration in the construction plan for the Nigeria Police Southern Annang Divisional Headquarters. The project, which was facilitated by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was initially approved as a one-storey administrative block, but the communities were surprised and disappointed to find that a single 4-bedroom bungalow was being constructed instead.
The protest saw men, women, youths, and village heads unite at the project site, chanting slogans like "We no go gree o, we no go gree," and carrying placards with messages such as “Senator Godswill Akpabio approved project is what we want” and “We reject the Four-bedroom bungalow.” The demonstrators made it clear that they were not willing to accept any structure other than the originally approved one-storey building.
Chief Aniefiok Fred, the Village Head of Ntak Obio Akpa, addressed the protesters, explaining the reasons behind their frustration. According to him, the communities had long requested a befitting structure for their Police Divisional Headquarters, as the existing facilities were inadequate. The community members even went as far as contributing their own funds to construct a structure, build a perimeter fence, and provide a water borehole to ensure a conducive environment for the police officers stationed there.
Chief Fred further emphasized that the Senate President had approved the construction of a one-storey building to serve as the Divisional Headquarters. However, the sudden change in the building plan to a single 4-bedroom bungalow has left the communities feeling betrayed and dissatisfied.
“We just completed the roofing of one new building over there,” Chief Fred noted, highlighting the community’s ongoing efforts to support the police division. “But we are here on a peaceful demonstration because the Senate President approved that a storey building should be constructed here, and we have just discovered that they changed the building plan.”
The protest reflects the communities' commitment to ensuring that their initial request is fulfilled, as they believe that the one-storey building will better serve the needs of the police division and the broader community. Their unified stance sends a strong message that they are unwilling to compromise on the quality and scope of the project that was promised to them. The communities now await a response from the authorities involved, hoping that their concerns will be addressed and the original plan reinstated.