The Honourable Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Pius Edet Ankpo, has said the Bakassi Deep Seaport project that was initiated by former Governor Ben Ayade is a must for the state.
Ankpo stated this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen in his office in Calabar, adding that all projects initiated by previous administrators will be completed.
According to him, the present Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu will leave no stone unturned as he embarks on his People’s First mandate, adding that investors are interested in the deep seaport as well as the superhighway.
“The Bakassi Deep Seaport is a project that must be done. Cross River State really need this project. It may take time but it’s a must-have project for the state. Lekki Deep Seaport, for instance, was initiated 24 years ago but it is visible today.
“Some of the investors we’ve had are interested in the deep seaport and the superhighway.
“I was a Commissioner in the last two years of the previous administration, the contract was put on hold for the 275km superhighway by former Governor Ben Ayade but, it’s also a project that will complement the deep seaport. If it is not viable, we will look at the already existing highway and expand it,” Ankpo said.
Hon. Pius Edet Ankpo, Cross River State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure
The Commissioner also said projects like the Obudu International Cargo Airport and Boki East-West road will be completed by Otu’s administration.
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“There is no project initiated by the past government that will not be completed. The cargo airport is ongoing and will be completed. The Boki East-West road is captured in the 2024 project,” he said.
He said Governor Otu is managing resources and has spent less than N50 million for the rehabilitation of Parliamentary Extension and less than N50 million for that of Watt Market.
“The first project we started was the Ogoja Junction, Ukpe and Ndok – the road was bad that the Deputy Governor could not pass to his hometown. We spent two weeks to ensure the road is passable.
“The next project was Parliamentary Extension, we spent less than N50 million to do an overlay based on direct labour. We moved to Watt Market, about two trucks fell there, we spent less than N50 million to lay asphalt from the police station to the roundabout.
“We are working at Esuk Utan, where we have the largest tank farms in Nigeria aside from Lagos, and we are extending to the NPA as well.
“We are constructing about 10 extra roads apart from rehabilitation in Calabar South. We still disilting the drains and lots of other projects scattered across the state,” Ankpo said.
The Works Commissioner said all the projects initiated in the state are done by the State Government, adding that no one, including individuals and corporate organisations, has given the government any money for any project in the state, apart from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, which has constructed two roads in the state.
He also said there are projects spread across the three Senatorial Districts of the State which will be done by this administration.
He said the projects are being handled by indigenes of the State, one of which is Michael Asuquo, owner of Faith Plants.
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