by crossriverwatch admin
The Cross River State executive council has ratified a contract worth 1.3 billion Naira for the construction of five urban roads across the three sen
atorial districts.
Commissioner for Works, Mr. Legor Idagbo, who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the weekly state executive council meeting, Wednesday, stated that four roads of five kilometers would be constructed in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area at a cost of N594, 964,351.38k.
The commissioner averred that following the successful implementation of phase one of the urban development program, which received accolades from well meaning Cross Riverians, the government saw the need to commence a second phase of the program with Ekori in Yakurr Local Government Area as a starting point.
Idagbo stated that Ekori, which is a border town with Ebonyi state, was fast becoming a modern city and needed the necessary road infrastructure to handle the volume of traffic to the town.
“Phase One of our urban renewal program in Ikom, Obudu, Ugep, Calabar and Ogoja was highly successful, we got a lot of commendations for that, and there was clamor for us to begin Phase Two of the program and expand it to other fast growing cities and towns”, he added
He pointed out that government intends to capture Obubra Local Government Area along side Ekori, making it eight councils so far captured by the exercise, as they were committed to ensuring that all the 18 local government headquarters are covered in the urban renewal program in the future.
Idagbo said that the popular IBB way, which connects the Margaret Ekpo International Airport to the City, would be expanded at the sum of N596, 390,220.33.
On the IBB Way improvement works, Idagbo said that the state government thought it wise to enhance the aesthetics of the road to give it a more befitting and attractive look in line with current realities as the state strives to retain its status as Nigeria’s preferred tourists’ destination.
According to him, the improvement works on IBB Way will include expansion of the existing road, construction of path ways, pedestrian walk ways and expansion of the roundabout, noting that the contractor has already been mobilized to site.
Mr. Idagbo said that the monitoring team from the ministry will not rest on its oars to ensure regular supervision of all ongoing construction projects across the state in line with specified standard.
In his words, “We will also ensure the enforcement of our reward and sanction scheme which all contractors have ascribed to allow us terminate and blacklist any contractor who fails to perform and reward those who deliver on scheduled”. He urged the contractors to make the best use of the dry season and fast track the completion of construction works.
The state executive council also ratified a contract for the construction of an access road to the Federal College of Education, Bebi Campus in Obanliku Local Government Area for N137,853,633.75k.
The commissioner explained that “before now there was no access road to the Bebi Campus of the Federal College of Education, so, most of the motorists and pedestrians alike were using the airstrip as a thorough fair”.
“For air safety management, and also for the safety of the pedestrians, his Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, thought it wise to construct a proper access road to the school, and work is ongoing”, he said.
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