By Essien INYANG
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters-Senate, Senator Ita Enang could not hide his joy when the news of President Buhari’s approval of contract for the dualization of Calabar - Odukpani - Itu - Ikot Ekpene Road spur Ididep - Itam was broke.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the road projects totaling N54.6 billion.
The Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and that of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
According to Fashola, N54.172 billion was approved for Odukpani- Itu-Ikot Ekpene route linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
He said: “The Ministry of Power Works and Housing had just one memorandum and it was for the award of the Odukpani Itu-Ikot Ekpene route linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River States with a spur to Ididep Itam . The road project was awarded to Julius Berger Plc.
“So we expect that all of the problems associated with that road which was constructed for well over 40 years ago which has outgrown its design life and also its design capacity those problems will now be frontally responded to by the award of this contract.
We will do the best to quickly mobilise the contractor to site with the onset of the rainy season and am sure that by this time next year, it will be a better story and a better journey time experience in that area of the country.”
Senator Enang added that over ten to twelve years (10-12yrs),the people of South South and South East Could not ply the road with their trade and economic life of the area suffered because the channel through which business were carried out was broken, damaged and the impact were felt by the people.
He said the people of the area will remain eternally grateful to President Buhari’s administration for coming to rescue them after many years of suffering on the broken road.
Senator Enang stated this while fielding questions from the state House correspondents on Wednesday.
According to him, " I'm here to express appreciation to Mr President for coming to our rescue, the Calabar - Odukpani - Itu - Ikot Ekpene Road being dualized now will rejuvenate the economic life of the people of South South and South East. They can't, but just say Mr President thank you, we are more than grateful. Thank you Nigerians .
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