The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has disclosed that up to 70 percent of its 2021 budget would be channelled into the completion of the East-West road project.
This was disclosed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babayo Ardo, while inspecting the East-West road at Section IV (Eket By pass Dual Carriage Way and Onne/Eket-Oron road) in Akwa Ibom State, over the weekend.
He assured that the ministry is working round the clock to ensure the completion of the East West road.
“I am highly satisfied with what I have seen, the contractors are all on site working assiduously in line with President Muhammadu Buhari directive to complete and commission this priority project before the first quarter of 2022.
“For the past two days the Hon. Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura and I, have been on the East-West road for inspection, that Section (I) which covers Warri in Delta State to Kaima in Bayelsa has already been completed last year”, he added.
Engineer Okoro Iheomamere, a representative of the ministry, said phase 1 of the Eket Bridge is already completed, while work is in progress at Bridge 5, as well as construction work at the stage of earthworks to stabilize the swampy terrain is ongoing at Eket bypass.
According to him, the section (IV) of the East-West Road project is about 95.7 percent complete revealing, with few works remaining at the Deck-on-pile Section of Eket bridge.
Responding to the perm sec’s comments at the Eket and Oron axis of the East West Road, the Project Manager/Coordinator, Gitto Construction Company Nigeria Ltd, Chief Ghanem, explained that the mobilization of the basic equipment to the sites have hastened the pace of work adding that most of the sites would be completed soon and ready for commissioning.
He stated that the Eket by-pass, when completed would lead straight to Calabar from various Niger Delta States as commuters will enjoy seamless movement on that route without experiencing traffics, noting that the company engages the community and the youths to ensure a peaceful atmosphere that enables them to work effectively, while compensation is about 99 per cent done.
