The federal government has assured that a good part of the 185 billion naira federal Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene highway, under construction, will be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari before he leaves office this year. next.
The 28.6-kilometer road, which was built in 1975, had become a death trap and a subject of politics in recent years, but is now being rebuilt by the administration headed by President Buhari.
Speaking during the on-site assessment and inspection of the progress of works on the said road last weekend, the former Special Assistant to the President for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang , said three construction companies were involved in delivering the work, but they would finish on different timelines.
He said, “The cost of the whole project is around N185 billion; the share attributed to Sematech Construction Company is 79 billion naira, that of Julius Berger is 54 billion naira, while the share attributed to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd. (CCECC) is 50.2 billion.
“Each of them has its completion periods. Indeed, the contracts were not signed at the same time but Sematech undertook to deliver in advance and according to the specifications.
“Much of it would be fully completed and we expect His Excellency President Buhari to commission, with his hand, part of the road and part of the bridges before the deadline of this government.
“I am impressed with what has been done so far. The Julius Berger portions of the project are funded through the Sukuk Fund, other windows funding these projects are the Federal Department of Public Works budget, loans through the Sukuk Fund, and then the NNPC Tax Credit Critical Infrastructure Fund through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). We have not and will not abandon this project.
“The contractors are on site, working, not caring about the rain, they are doing what the rain can allow them to do to get this road ready as soon as possible. Our tour today is to show our folks that something is really going on when it comes to this Calabar/Itu road thing.
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