by crossriver watch admin
Precisely a week after his return to Calabar, Senator Liyel Imoke, the governor of Cross River State in a bid to abreast himself with some of the projects which were under construction before his sudden departure to the United States of America, on Friday, 8th March undertook a tour of projects sites around the Calabar metropolis.
He was accompanied on the tour by his Works Commissioner, Legor Idagabo, Special Adviser, Events Management, Nzan Ogbe and other functionaries.
He inspected the Tinapa Knowledge City (TKC), the Margaret Ekpo Airport bypass, International Convention Center, the second Calabar Water Channel and the Ikot Efanga Housing Estate and at the end of the inspection assured that the projects will be completed before he exits office.
Speaking at the Tinapa Knowledge Center (TKC) after undertaking an on the spot inspection of the multi-billion Naira projects, Imoke reiterated that his government has been careful in choosing projects to execute so as to ensure that they are projects which will benefit the people of the state.
The Governor explained that though the projects are quite extensive, the state has taken time in identifying them as well as sorting out their funding to ensure they are delivered on time.
He noted that progress had been made since his vacation and said the type of leadership which the state government has put in place is a model worthy of emulation.
Imoke said the 1.7 kilometer water channel which is expected to evacuate water from State Housing Estate and environs to the Calabar River, will be completed before the rains set in.
According to him, the N2 Billion underground drainage, when completed will reduce the level of flooding usually experienced in recent times by those living in housing estate and along the Murtala Mohammed Highway.
He remarked that though there are other big projects across the state, emphasis is placed on them being delivered on schedule to ensure that the state not only remains a destination for tourism but also for investments.
The Governor described the Tinapa Knowledge City (TKC), which will be commissioned before the end of March, as the first of its kind in West Africa that will offer 300 jobs, train people on how to develop computer softwares as well as provide a convenient environment to attract private sector.
At the Idundu Community section of the Margaret Ekpo Airport By-pass, a supervisor with the contracting firm, SERMATECH, ENG. Jusuf Gwom, said the 12 kilometer dual carriage road is being constructed from both ends and that equalization culverts are constructed every 50 meters to channel water from the swamp to Qua River.
Receiving the Governor at the flyover section of the Marian Extension end of the road, Mr. Isioma Ezachi, the Managing Director of SERMATCH, disclosed that piling was ongoing as the initial 24 piles have been increased to 29.
According to Ezachi, construction of beams for the bridge has commenced while reinforcement equipment, sanding machines, pentonite mud remover and some automatic machines have been brought to site to accelerate work.
At the Ikot Effanga Housing Estate, the road network and drains have been constructed.
Governor Imoke also inspected the ongoing work on the 2.6 kilometer dual carriage road from the Murtala Mohammed Highway to the Calabar International Convention Center, where he witnessed electrical earthling and laying of pipes.
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