BY: VITALIS UGOH ,Calabar
Following the onset of dry season,Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state is ramping up rehabilitation of internal roads in the capital, Calabar.
The state Commissioner for works, Engineer Dan Osim Asu said the governor has also mobilised contractors for the completion of the 27 kilometre all important Boki East-West road.
The East- west road, according to him, is designed to connect the two halves of Boki local government area of the state- Boki East and Boki West.
The Murtala Muhammed Highway which is the only entrance and exit artery in and out of Calabar by road is one of the roads being rehabilitated.
Governor Ayade, according to the commissioner, “has approved in this very difficult period, complete rehabilitation and maintenance of urban roads, by way of portholes, overlaying them, that’s why I call it rehabilitation other than maintenance, so he has approved that maintenance and work is ongoing in the metropolis”
Engineer Asu assured that contractors will return to the East- west road in the coming days as government has released further mobilization and payments to contractors to enable them take the road project to the stone base level.
He also maintained that work on the two bridges linking the road will go on simultaneously, assuring that the Boki East- west road will be asphalted before the end of 2021.
The Commissioner explained that the Ayade-led administration was carrying on with its road infrastructure obligations despite lean financial resources because it understands that the people come first.
“It is a renewed vigor, impetuous, strength even in this very decadent period. The government wants to ensure it’s on full throttle full and also to ensure that each project is handled with the seriousness it requires to make sure that we take on our responsibilities as a state government so that all our promises made in terms of road and road infrastructure are commissioned within the tenure of this administration”, he said.
On other road projects embarked upon by the Ayade administration since assuming office five years ago, Engineer Asu disclose that the 147 kilometre highway linking the five local government areas that make up Northern Cross River was about 90 percent completed.
“Talking about the Usung Esuk road from the express road, Calabar/Itu road into Usung Esuk road , about 3.5 kilometer have been completed with drainages that have been done by this government.
“In Ogoja Urban you have the state housing estate into the Ogoja town, the road has been completed and is in use and several other road projects that are ongoing”, he stated.