The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, on Thursday assured that work would soon begin on the section of East-West Road, linking Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
Usani gave the assurance in Calabar at a programme tagged: “Presidential Initiative on Niger Delta Agricultural and Industrial Development Summit.”
According to him, the N3 billion provided in this year’s budget will facilitate the commencement of work on the project.
He said: “Very soon, procurement on the road project would be done, and contractors would soon be mobilised to site.”
He said the road project which was the fifth section of the East-West Road had to be redesigned to make the project feasible.
The minister said the first design for the construction of the section of the road was faulty, hence the delay in its commencement.
He gave the assurance that all road projects in the state, being executed by the Federal Government would be completed on time.
Usani said the programme was designed to attract investors to the Niger Delta region, given the vast economic potential in the area.
He said that Cross River would gain a lot because its rich endowment with vast human and natural resources.
The minister said the initiative was designed to ensure that Nigeria became self-sufficient in food production, being one of the major focal points of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
He said that given the peaceful atmosphere in the state, there was no doubt that investors would stream in to take advantage of the initiative.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State described the summit as timely and very important to the state.
Ayade said the initiative could not have come at a better time than now, when the state was also working towards boosting the non-oil sector.
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