Hensek Integrated Services Ltd: A’Ibom’s iconic indigenous construction company
By: Udeme Inyang, Newslinkng.com
The construction industry in Akwa Ibom State during the Godswill Akpabio era was dominated by foreign firms and the reason was clear and simple. During the time of Akpabio’s predecessor, Victor Attah, a lot of indigenous firms were given jobs by the state government in line with Attah’s commitment to implement the local content policy, which would help to stem capital flight.
Although the policy came with good intentions by Obong Attah, the aim which was to create wealth for the people of the state and raise their living standard greatly backfired with many indigenous firms churning out sub-standard roads and infrastructure to the detriment of the Attah led administration and the people. Attah’s saving grace was the few multi-national companies who lived up to the billing and delivered their jobs without blemish.
So, when Akpabio succeeded Attah and quickly declared an infrastructural renaissance for the state, a horde of foreign and multi-national construction firms flooded the state. Akpabio, not ready to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor awarded most of the construction jobs to various multi-national firms who had turned Akwa Ibom into a Mecca of sorts.
And so in eight years, courtesy of Akpabio, while the foreign companies delivered hundreds of new roads and three new concentric flyovers, and citizens of the state celebrated the infrastructures which were being built at dizzying pace across the state, indigenous Engineering firms were left to rue their fate and were hardly considered again no thanks to the ‘sins’ of their colleagues during the Attah era.
While a few of the indigenous companies enjoyed only a slight amount of patronage, majority were frozen out with little or nothing to do. The few who were still considered had to make do with a few inter-ministerial & direct labour jobs which were mainly provided for politicians in a bid to oil the political machinery.
However, the coming of Udom Emmanuel as governor seems to have brought a purple patch for the almost forgotten indigenous Engineering Companies in the state. With a few months into his tenure as governor, oil prices which had averaged $112 per barrel some 12 months before had suddenly gone under $39 per barrel. This huge decline predictably brought a painful effect on the economy of our dear state. In both the private and public sectors, employers struggled to meet obligations. The new state government obviously not ready to spend more stupendous cash on the previously over-pampered multi-national companies turned attention to the hitherto forgotten indigenous firms.
Luckily enough, as time had gone by, some indigenous firms had grown both financial and technical capacity to stand stiff competition from these foreign firms. The capital intensive industry has seen the rise of the local players who have shown that they have what it takes to at least compete with the foreign players in terms of design execution and delivery to name a few.
One of the few indigenous companies that has weathered the storm and has stood up to be counted as far as giving top class delivery to civil engineering jobs is concerned has been Hensek Integrated Services Limited.
A wholly indigenous operated construction firm based in the state, Hensek has been saddled by the Udom administration with the enormous task of building roads and infrastructure for Akwa Ibom people. And so far, it’s been so good. Hensek has unsurprisingly passed this seeming trial in flying colours.
During the road and infrastructure commissioning exercise embarked upon by the Udom administration, jobs executed by Hensek were duly delivered according to specification and to the delight of the state government.
Just a year into his tenure, the governor commissioned the Mkpok-Ukat Road that terminates at a swampy river beach in Onna was commissioned. The road comes with a spur. The project, handled by Hensek Integrated services, is a beauty to behold.
Also, the internal roads and Building blocks at Cornelia Connelly College in Uyo were also put back to shape by Hensek to the admiration of everyone. The company is also credited with the School Of Arts and Science Road, Nnung Ukim, Ikono and Urban roads in Abak.
This year, more roads built by Hensek have been commissioned by the governor who has retained undiluted faith in the five star indigenous engineering Firm.
In Uyo metropolis, Ntiedo Udosen Street, Afaha Ikot Obio Akan and the Secretariat Annex Road are examples of road projects executed with quality by Hensek.
Commending Hensek for a job well done during the last road commissioning spree in May 2019, the government saluted the efforts of Engr Uwem Okoko the man behind the Hensek brand. The governor specifically commended the young Ikot Abasi born Engineer for going beyond the bounds of available funding to execute projects. He had nothing but special praise for Engr Okoko stressing that Hensek have done the state proud.
Hensek Integrated Services Ltd came into being as an engineering solution power house fully manned by professionals, but with a world class spirit. Due to the perception about indigenous companies not being able to deliver jobs to specification, Hensek Integrated Services Ltd set out to correct that impression and today the quality delivery of their projects is a testament to this fact and has set them apart from their contemporaries. They have carefully selected the right people and acquired the necessary equipments to give a top class delivery to civil engineering jobs.
At this juncture, it is believed that as the government remains focused in its drive to open up the rural areas for social economic benefits, indigenous contractors who have shown competence and commitment in quality job delivery, should be considered for patronage. This is because Hensek Integrated Services in the Dakkada spirit has risen to the faith of greatness and has made a lasting impression for the benefit for indigenous construction firms.
