The federal government has assured that a good part of the N185 billion Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene federal highway, under construction would be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari before he leaves office next year.
The 28.6-kilometre road, which was constructed in 1975, had become a death trap and a subject of politicking in recent years but it is now being reconstructed by the President Buhari-led administration.
Speaking during the on-the-spot assessment and inspection of the progress of work on the said road, weekend, the former special assistant to the president on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said three constructing firms were involved in the delivery of the job but that they would finish at different timelines.
He said: “The cost implication of the entire project is about N185 billion; the part allotted to Sematech Construction Company is N79 billion, that of Julius Berger is N54 billion, while the part awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd.(CCECC) is 50.2 billion.
“Each of them has their completion periods. This is because the contracts were not signed at the same time but the Sematech has promised to deliver ahead of time and on specifications.
“A great part of it would be fully completed and we are expecting His Excellency, President Buhari to, with his hand, commission part of the road and part of the bridges before the terminal date of this government.
“I am impressed with what has been done so far. The Julius Berger parts of the project is funded by Sukuk Fund, other windows funding these projects are Federal Ministry of Works budget, loans through the Sukuk fund, and then the Critical Infrastructure Fund of NNPC Tax Credit through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). We haven’t and will not abandon this project.
“The contractors are on site, working, not minding the rain, they are doing what the rain can allow them do to get this road ready as soon as practicable. Our tour today is to show our people that something is actually going on as far as this Calabar/Itu road matter is concerned.”
