NSE EKET BRANCH VISIT TO NIGERPET SERVICES CONSTRUCTION SITE AT THE EKET-ORON ROUNDABOUT BY UDUA NKA ON SATURDAY, 20TH MAY, 2023
Preamble:
The Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE Eket Branch, under the Leadership of Engr Dr Ekerete Usak FNSE, FNIMechE deepens her community engineering services and strides with an engineering visit/facility tour to NigerPet Construction Site in Eket.
The Construction site of Eket Roundabout with major entrance from Atabong Road and dispersing outlets of Eket/Oron Road, Liverpool Road and Hopsital Roads. This first of it’s kind Roundabout has with it a 1000 sitting capacity amphitheatre. The project is modeled for aesthetic, safety and revenue generation. The construction has 8 retaining walls, sitting facilities, stage and lighting system. The lighting is designed to be generator powered for economic reason. 24 lamps in total with a capacity of 800W each. Waste management will be by mobile toilet. There was adequate facility for drainage via a 8.5m depth underground drain.
Concerns raised by NSE and Recommendation:
1. EIA availability and public hearing requirement for the project: It was confirmed to have been done.
2. Workers not wearing personal protective equipment: this was blamed on subcontracting phase of the project and time frame constraint, since it’s due for commission the following week.
3. One of the entrances to the theatre being directly opposite the main road way: a 1.5m high barrier was recommended.
4. Maintenance issues: It was revealed that a one year maintenance window is included in the contract term after which the facility will be handed over to the state government, then to the local government whom the maintenance duty will be saddled.
The reception of the NSE team was welcoming. The interaction with the NigerPet, State government and NSE Engineers was impressive. There is need to have a continuous engagement and interaction with the regulatory bodies Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) of COREN, a professional organization like the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the contractors, community and the government.
This will deepen project knowledge, participation and protection for sustainability.
A cross section of members of the Nigeria Society of Engineers Eket Branch: Engr Emmanuel Akpekong Sam, MNSE, Engr Idongesit Oduok,MNSE, Engr Enoch Oyokunyi, Mr Moses Moses and a host of others. From.the flank of the NigerPet the following were part of the entourage:
Engr Ayo Odebiyi,the project Coordinator, Engr Nkereuwem Essien, the Project Engineer and Engr Emmanuel Asibong Site Engineer.
