By Yiep Joseph
Residents of Warrap State are urging the new mayor of Kuajok Municipal Council, Kur Akol Malek, to prioritize the completion of the airport project.
Recently, the governor of Warrap State, Francis Marial Abur, appointed Kur Akol Malek as the mayor, replacing Ayok Chol Ayok.
In interviews with residents, many welcomed this change in leadership and expressed their hope that the new mayor would focus on finishing the construction of the Warrap airport.
The airport project, which includes a 3-kilometer-long and 45-meter-wide runway, terminals, and a surrounding fence, has faced significant delays due to the country’s financial difficulties.
Wol Abang, one of the residents, voiced his frustration over the unfinished airport, despite earlier government promises to improve infrastructure in the state.
He called on Mayor Malek to take action and ensure the airport’s completion, which is seen as vital for further development projects in Warrap State.
“We shall not talk about the same thing from 2023 till now. About the airport, I am just appealing to Kur Akol, the new mayor, to complete the process to give a chance to other projects,” he said.
He called on the national government to support the mayor to ensure development in the town.
Abang urged the residents of Warrap town to embrace peace and teamwork to develop the town.
He appealed to the politicians to put aside their political differences and ensure teamwork to promote peace and development.
Also, Akech Madut, a resident of Kuajok town, expressed that most of the mayors continue to try their best; however, the issue of completion of the Kuajok airstrip remains a challenge.
“I am calling on the recently appointed mayor to focus on the airport and the internal roads in order to ease movement of the people to counties and payams,” he said.
He expressed that despite challenges, the municipal council can collect state revenues and put them toward development.
Meanwhile, Debora Apat called on the mayor to ensure that villages are connected to the Kuajok town to ease the transportation of assorted products for trading.
She expressed that most of the produce in the villages could not reach the town due to poor roads.
Apat also reiterated the need for the town mayor to ensure that the long-awaited Kuajok airport is completed.
“The issues of Warrap airport have taken long; I urge the newly appointed mayor to complete it so that we see better and completed structures,” she said.
End games.
In April 2024, differences erupted between the Warrap State government and the contractor undertaking the ongoing construction of the Kuajok Airport.
The former state minister for information, William Wol Mayom, consistently expressed disappointment over the slow pace of the implementation of the multimillion-dollar project, a claim denied by the company.
Engineer Bol Anei, project manager of Amocco Construction Company, has instead blamed both the state and national governments for delaying the construction, maintaining that the company is ready to jump-start the works anytime they avail funds.
However, Minister Wol said the firm has consistently dragged its feet in the works as per the contract.