As part of efforts to enhance connectivity, ease of movement and access, the Cross River State government has delivered 200 km roads and bridges in the last two year.
It also increased the pace of work on several other road and bridge projects currently ongoing in different parts of the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, on Monday, when he led journalists on a media tour of projects embarked upon by Governor Bassey Otu in various locations in Calabar, the state capital.
This was part of events to commemorate the 2nd year of the first term of Otu’s administration.
Speaking on the projects, the state Commissioner for Works, Engr Pius Ede, maintained that state has continued with the year-round maintenance, using a wide range of intervention methods such as sectional repairs, overlay works, and pothole patching, carrying out various interventions on several roads of and drainage channels across the state.
He said of the 200 km road project, 60km has been completed and awaiting commissioning by the state governor, while others were in different stages of completion.
The commissioner enumerated some of the projects which were completed or at various stages of completion to include the 12km Adiabo – Okurikang road initiated by the General Abacha – led military regime over 30 years ago and abandoned by successive administrations.
He said the project, though still ongoing and at 40 per cent competition has opened up the state capital and provided alternative access to traffic in and outside the state capital which had only one access road linking other towns in southern Nigeria.
Ede explained that the 5km Adiabo – DSS Training School Road initiated by Governor Otu to serve as a link between Akim-Akim community and cut off traffic from Calabar to Odukpani axis was initiated to provide direct access to the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort and to enable farmer to evacuate their farm produce to urban markets.
The commissioner also disclosed that work on the popular Zone 6 – Esuk Utan road, where several tank farms are located and had never been touched, has been completed with street light and awaiting commissioning.
Other completed or ongoing projects spread across the three senatorial districts of the state include the 26.9km Oban -Nsam road linking Constituency 1 and 2 in Akamkpa Local Government Area initiated in the pre-colonial era and abandoned by successive administrations.
He enumerated other projects in the Central Senatorial District to include roads in Ugep metropolis, the Mkpani – Agoi road and the construction of Ijom hospital road among others.
“Government presence has also been felt in Ikom, the headquarters of the Central Senatorial District with the construction of Bank road, initiated by Governor Otu and ready for commissioning, and the Etomi road linking Ikom with Etung local government area, Ochidere road, Sweet mother road and Nde community which are all now wearing a new look.
“We are about to also commence the construction of the Boki East West road with the contractor mobilised on site,” he said.
In Cross River North, in his first year in office, Governor Otu started with the remediation of the Ndok Junction that was hitherto impassable with over 200 tankers stagnant on the road. In Ogoja Local Government, Governor Otu has also constructed several network of roads around the town; motorists can now drive from Ndok Junction to Monaya smoothly.
“We have also taken the message of People First mantra of Governor Otu to the people of Yala Local Government Area where presently we have completed work on the construction of a bridge that links the people of Alifokpa to neighbouring communities which were hitherto cut off from other communities and few months from now, the road will be ready for use by the people of the area.
“In Ukelle that has been yelling for government presence over the years, we have also intervened and almost completed work on the construction of over 5km Ukelle road that will link the people with the other side of the local government area among other.
He said all this is devoid of all other federal roads the government has intervened in.
Solomon Azu, The Guardian
