By Ignatius Ushie
The Honourable Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, CON, has reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to deliver Section I-IV of the East-West road in line with the present administration’s aspiration and see to the award of Section V (Oron-Calabar) after necessary technical reviews. In a press statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja. The Minister made this disclosure during the ‘Round Table Meeting of Counterparts on the Complementary Programme for the East-West road project, held recently in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the target of the Ministry is to deliver completely Sections I-IV of the East West road on or before December 2021. Then ensure the revalidation and award of contract for Section V covering Oron-Calabar initially awarded to RCC Construction Company by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), but was later abandoned due to the astronomical cost of the project when it was re-routed.
Sen. Akpabio appreciated the commitment of members of the counterparts’ team adding that these deliverables would not be complete without a varial management support for the road. According to him,
“It is not just the road that is important but also the management of the corridor such that it will enable the development of aesthetics and other infrastructures along the road network”, he said.
Speaking further Akpabio said the commitment of the Ministry to the ‘Round Table meeting’ must therefore be complimented by the support of all the counterparts in terms of action to ensure the beauty and sustainability of government efforts and development agencies on the road over the years.
The high point of the occasion was the presentation of Advisory Notes to representatives of counterparts at ‘Round Table Meeting’.
Speaking during the Round Table Meeting of Counterparts on the East-West road, the Permanent Secretary MNDA, Dr. Babayo Ardo said the road traversing 5 States in the region has been under construction since 2006, but the administration of President Buhari has promised to ensure that the road is completed by 2021.Babayo said that in other to realise this promise, the Ministry is not only pulling resources to ensure that the East-West road is completed but also that the completion and management of the road will top the main item on the agenda at the 4th National Council of Niger Delta slated for 14th -19th December, 2020 in Port Harcourt.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the Round Table meeting is a complimentary programme on the road that would be reported at the National Council, because development consist of both the ‘hardware and software’ components to ensure adequate management of the road usage.
Earlier in his welcome address to participants at the “Round Table Meeting of Counterparts on Complementary Programme for the East-West Road’, the Director Housing and Urban Development of the Ministry, Engr. Patrick Okereafor, said the meeting is to discuss a draft work plan for 2021, to brief the Minister, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and also issue Advisory note to participants of concerned States.
“I am certain that the meeting would further reinforce and shape our collective resolve for actions towards planning, preservation, development and management of the road corridor and this resolve would translate to a win-win situation for us, our institutions and the people of the region”, he said.
