East-West Road: Minister Orders Expert Analysis of Section Five

By Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, has directed a team of experts to undertake a critical analysis of the structural design of section five of the East-West Road from Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to Calabar, Cross River State within three weeks before work commences on the project.

He said the ministry could not afford any further delay in delivering the 338 kilometre project to the end-users, given its inherent benefits to the people.

The experts are drawn from the ministry, the consultants of the project, representatives of Akwa Ibom and Cross River State governments are to analyse the existing design of the project as well as consider alternative designs for alignment for cost efficiency.

The minister gave the directive at a stakeholders’ meeting on the extension of the East-West Road project from Oron to Calabar. The meeting was organised by the ministry.

“This Confab is organised in the interest of the people who are stakeholders; we are here as a government living on very meagre resources to achieve results.”

“This meeting was organised so we could be educated on the existing design of the project and not for ulterior motives; my interest is the success of this administration in projects delivery,” a statement issued by the Head, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Mr. Marshall Gundu quoted Uguru to have said.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Omoleye Daramola expressed happiness that the initial four sections of the road from Warri to Oron were almost completed.