03 February 2013, Calabar – The Cross River Government says it has, in collaboration with African Development Bank, committed about N20.31 billion to the implementation of Rural Access and Mobility Project in the state.
The State Project Coordinator, Mr Charles Okongor, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
Okongor said the chunk of the funds was being spent on the civil works for the construction of 474-Kilometre rural roads currently going on across the 18 local government areas.
“For the civil works, the state government is committing N13.3 billion and the ADB is committing N7.01 billion. And so far, 30 per cent of the funds has been paid out already to contractors according to the level of works done,’’ he said.
He said that the project implementation committee was ready to pay any contractor who completed his job and urged them to expedite work on them, to meet the June 2013 project deadline.
Ogongor said the partners had made the funding available, adding that contractors had no reason to fail to deliver.
He said that one of the roads (4.1 km) had been completed and awaiting commissioning while others were at various stages.
According to him, the roads under construction included Yahe-Wanokom-Wanikande-Benue border (55km); Ukpe-OkiroUbangwula-Obudu (40km); Ekpiri Ikang-Edim Edim Ikot Effanga (4.1 km); and Calabar-Ikom Highway/Akim Akim (81 km).
He said, however, rising cost of construction materials and heavy rain fall in the area were serious challenges to the works.
Okongor said the implementation committee had put in place measures to ensure that benefiting communities were engaged in the construction to create job and ensure community participation.
He said government was committed to the projects as part of its promise to deliver good governance to the people, particularly those at the grassroots.
*NAN
