Jonglei governor inspects progress in road construction

By John Actually

March 3, 2011 (BOR) – The governor of Jonglei, Kuol Manyang, visited today the town of Gadiang to inspect the progress made in the construction of a new road linking different counties in the vast state.

Funded by the national government and implemented by a Sudanese company, Eyat, the new road links the state capital Bor to Gadiang, Ayod , Akobo , Pibor, Duk and Twic East counties headquarters.

The project aims, among other economic purposes, to reduce insecurity issues in the 11-counties state which has poor road network.

The governor was accompanied by state minister law enforcement, Gabriel Duop Lam, minister of physical infrastructure, Manawe Peter Gatkuoth, Advisor to the governor on special mission, Mr. Mathiang Malual, town of Gadiang.

Gadiang project director, Engineer Farandin Aniyel, who received the governor and his team, said his company is working hard to finish grading the roads before the next rainy season starts in April this year.

Aniyel confirmed his team leveled 31km out of 185 km Gadiang-Akobo road and the remaining part is expected to finish in a week time. He further said said the delay of funds from the clients, insecurity and heavy rainfalls had been the major setbacks in their work.

The engineer asked the governor to bring more police to provide security to the workers and the company properties. Gadiang is the meeting point in the middle of Savana forest of Jonglei, where many unknown armed groups cross.

The visiting governor and his delegation pledged to support Gadiang town by setting up water projects to provide clean water to Barracks and villages around it through the minister of Physical infrastructure, Manawe Peter Gatkuoth.

Impressed by the great job done by Eyat, Governor Kuol Manayang expressed his gratitude to Eyat officials for the work done and vowed to extend South Sudan citizenship to Eyat workers who feel to stay in South Sudan when South gains her full independence in July 9.

Manyang said the construction of roads network will help to stop rampant cattle rustling between the counties that claim many lives yearly. He pledged to deploy police to help in road construction by providing security to the company and worker.

Gadiang town was established in 1976 as a meeting place for traditional leaders of Jonglei major tribes of Nuer, Dinka Bor and Murle to discuss their differences face to face but the area failed to develop due to lack of support from the government.

(ST)