The lingering dispute that has stalled construction work on the Eket-Oron section of the East-West Road has been resolved.

Community leaders in Eket have been kicking against the construction of a by-pass which, according to them, was not in the original design of the road contract.

The dispute was resolved, Tuesday, during a meeting facilitated by the Akwa Ibom State Government in Government House, Uyo, at the instance of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, between Eket community leaders and officials of GITTO Construction Company, the contracting firm.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, said it was resolved by all that the construction of the by-pass should go ahead alongside the upgrading of the existing road.

He promised that the interest of the Eket people will not be in any way jeopardised in the construction of the by-pass, pointing out that as discussed and agreed by all at the meeting, they had nothing to lose as the by-pass will be a dual-carriage way to complement the original road.

The Deputy Governor also disclosed that contract tenders have been issued for the dualisation of the Eket-Etinan Road and the construction of a road from Eket to the Akwa Ibom State International Airport.