The Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, CON, has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that N19.67 Billion be released immediately to fast track the completion of the section I-IV of the East-West Road project by 2021.
Senator Akpabio stated this during a meeting he had with contractors handling different sections of the road projects in Abuja recently.
The Minister explained that the East-West road which was conceived in 2006 during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Administration was to be completed in 2010, but this was stalled principally due to paucity of funds. In April 2009, the project was transferred to Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, with the mandate of fast-tracking its completion, this could not also be realized due to in-flexible terms prescribed by Financial institutions in this regard.
According to Sen. Akpabio, despite the checkered history of the project which may not require less than N102 billion for its overall completion, President Muhammadu Buhari in line with the determination of his administration to address the issue of deficient infrastructure in the country has graciously decided to consider issues surrounding the delay in the completion of the project with a Presidential pronouncement on June 18, 2020
“The project which starts from the Delta Steel company Roundabout in Delta State, transverses through Kaiama in Bayelsa State, goes through Ahoada in Port Harcourt in Rivers State, down to Eket and from Eket to Oron in Akwa-Ibom State, is to complete the Section I-IV being part of the two sections that had previously been completed. Section–V which covers 23km from Oron to Calabar is still under process.
Considering the disposition of the region to the stability of Nigeria’s Economy, the project will not only redress infrastructural deficient in the region, its completion would assist the oil industry in terms of moving goods that will facilitate oil production, Movement within the area, Restiveness and boast the economic life of the people and the Nation at large” he said.
Speaking further, the Hon. Minister said that this administration has undertaken more infrastructural development projects than any other government he has met and the East-West road would be one of the legacy projects of this administration. He thanked the contractors for being committed to ensuring that the Presidential mandate is achieved by re-mobilizing back to site even when funds have not been made available and assured them of the people’s cooperation.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura in his remarks appealed to the contractors to work hard to fulfill the mandate of Mr. President.
The Contractors thanked the Minister for giving them the opportunity to work with the MNDA and reiterated their readiness to remobilize back to site immediately to meet the 2021 target deadline.
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