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Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Ita Enang, has canvassed immediate expansion of the remaining portion of the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu federal highway project, which contract has been awarded for N50.2b.
In a correspondent to the President Enang, said, “The road, constructed in 1976 as a single-lane road is now being expanded from Calabar–Odukpani in Cross River State to Itu–Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State and linking Aba, Abia State.”
Enang, who was former Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), also sought urgent intervention of the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, his Finance, Budget and National Planning counterpart, Zainab Ahmed to facilitate work on outstanding portion of the project already approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
“We pray the ministers to assist in the commencement and sustenance of the project for completion within the contract timeline by making adequate budgetary provisions annually,” he added.
He expressed gratitude to the President for what he described as a favour to the people of the South-South and South East regions.
“On behalf of the people of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Abia states, and indeed the commuting public, I express sincere appreciation to the President for this great favour to the people of South-South and South East and the entire country,” the letter reads.
He said the government has breathed fresh life into the economy of the regions through the award of the contract, adding that the road being the economic artery of the two zones has reduced the sufferings of the people.
Enang also expressed appreciation to Fashola, immediate past Minister of Budget and National Planning Udoma Udo Udoma, who he said, worked with him to capture the funds in the appropriation process.
He also thanked former Chairman, Senate Appropriation Committee and former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje, for his assistance.
“To the Secretary, Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and his team at the FEC, a big thank you, as we together make more impact in the South-South and South East geopolitical zones,” Enang added.
While explaining the economic importance of the road, he had said, “Food items, farming, evacuation of power and granite taken for construction for almost all the roads in the region comes from Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
“It is the heavy traffic that broke down the road. So, its expansion will rejuvenate the economic life of the areas.
“This has been one of the greatest problems of people of the states and we have been struggling for the past 12 years. But President Buhari said this must be done to reduce the people’s sufferings,” he stressed.