… as construction of C’River section kicks off in August
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has solicited support for the contractors that would be handling the Akwa Ibom-Calabar axis of the ongoing coastal highway.
Akpabio made the call while speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on the alignment of sections 3b and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, last week in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
His words, “I am very happy because people that are supposed to be here are here. Let me at this point appeal for the support and cooperation of the Akwa Ibom State government and my brothers and sisters for the construction companies, who would be handling this road project.
“These companies need peace, support and cooperation of our people to deliver the project in record time. I congratulate Governor Umo Eno for the commencement of this federal project during his time. We are happy to have a Federal Government road as a state. As a governor, I was not lucky to have that done, but I took it upon myself because it is Akwa Ibom people that use the road”.
According to Akpabio, “the governor should do everything possible to give total support for the success of the road project. As your ambassador and representative in Abuja, I will be monitoring and watching the Minister on your behalf. Hon. Minister, please help us thank President Bola Tinubu for accepting our request that as the project is kicking off from the Lagos axis, it should also kick-off from Calabar and Akwa Ibom simultaneously.”
The Senator also listed the benefits that would accrue to the indigenes and professionals from the state, saying, “There would be a lot of fallouts. Some sub contractors from the state would be adequately accommodated. There are quality engineers here that can help to actualize our dream on this road project. I thank the President for approving this project.”
He also appealed to the Works Minister to ensure the completion of the East West Road, the Calabar-Itu Road and the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road.
Earlier in his opening speech, Minister of Works, David Umahi, assured the people and government of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project was “a reality.”
According to him, “because of the love that President Bola Tinubu has for the people of these states, particularly your Son, the President of the Senate, he has graciously approved that sections 3b and 4 of the road should commence from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, respectively.
“The distance from Akwa Ibom and Cross River State sections of the road is about 107km from Uyo. A lot of side benefits abound. You are benefiting marginally from the project. Work on sections 1 and 2 has since commenced and work will start in sections 3b and 4 when the necessary issues have been settled.
“There were doubts that this project would not be done. But we are happy with the level of support we have so far received from Nigerians. There are lots of benefits that would accrue to the people of the coastal states like tourism, education, commerce and agriculture”.
In a brief remark, Governor Eno assured the Minister of the cooperation of his administration to the completion of all federal projects in the state, lending his voice to the call by the Senate President that the Calabar-Itu Road, which the state had commenced payment of compensation as required, and the Ikot Ekpene-Aba Road be completed for the use of the people of the two states.
The governor thanked President Tinubu and the President of the Senate for their support for his one-year-old administration and promised to work for the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu-led government.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, last Sunday in Calabar, said the construction of the Cross River State section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road will kick off in August 2024.
Umahi made the declaration during a stakeholders’ meeting on the proposed alignment for section 3A-38km of the coastal road project.
The minister stated that arrangements have already been concluded for the construction to kick-start on the two sections of the road in Cross River State with one section in Akwa Ibom State, simultaneously.
In his words, “After this stakeholders’ engagement, we will get the design and start the procurement. We are very sure that in the month of August construction will start in this state.
“I will not allow construction to start only from Akwa Ibom, but ensure that construction starts in three sections, two in Cross River and one in Akwa Ibom.
“The projects are going to have a rail track, we started with the tracks in the middle in section 2 but we have redesigned it to have the tracks by the side”.
Umahi canvassed for stakeholders’ support in the state so that the project can succeed.
Also speaking, Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, represented by the state deputy governor, Peter Odey, assured the minister of maximum cooperation to ensure a hitch-free execution of the project.
In a remark, the Surveyor-General of the state, Patrick Bassey, called for more sensitization to ensure that no certificate of occupancy is issued on the route of the road.
