Reps urge FG to begin Oron-Calabar road project 12 years after approval

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to commence construction of Section V, Phase I of the East-West Road linking Oron in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar in Cross River State, 12 years after the contract was approved.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Martins Esin, who raised concerns over the prolonged delay in executing the project, which is expected to improve transportation and economic activities across the Niger Delta region.

Leading the debate, Esin said the East-West Road was conceived as a major federal highway to connect communities and economic centres across the region while facilitating the movement of people, goods and services.

He recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under former President Goodluck Jonathan, approved the construction contract for Section V, Phase I, covering the Oron-Calabar corridor, on October 22, 2014, at a cost of ₦165.3 billion.

The lawmaker added that the FEC approved an additional ₦661.33 million on December 3, 2014, for engineering supervision of the project.

Esin expressed concern that despite the approvals granted more than a decade ago, construction of the Oron-Calabar section had yet to be completed, leaving a critical transportation link between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states unrealised.

According to him, the delay has continued to hamper the movement of people and goods between the two states, limiting the economic and developmental benefits expected from the East-West Road.

He described the Oron-Calabar corridor as the final stretch needed to complete the East-West Road and strengthen connectivity across the Niger Delta.

The House noted that the previous FEC approvals provided a basis for the relevant authorities to take the necessary steps towards implementing the project and addressing the longstanding infrastructure gap.

Consequently, lawmakers mandated the Federal Ministry of Works to take immediate steps to commence construction of the road linking Oron in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar in Cross River State.

The House also urged the Ministry of Works to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure that the construction of Section V, Phase I, is captured in the 2027 budget estimates.

To ensure compliance, the House mandated its joint Committees on Appropriations and Works to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and ensure that the project receives the necessary attention.

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