East-West Road for Completion Soon

The Minister of State for Niger Delta Ministry, Hon. Samuel Ode says the Federal Government is committed to the early, completion of the East-West Road in order to enhance socio-economic activities in the Niger Delta Region.

Hon. Ode stated this at Government House, Uyo, when he paid a courtesy call on the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, as part of his visit to inspect projects under the Ministry in Akwa Ibom.

As part of efforts to ensure the timely delivery of the East-West Road, the Minister said his Ministry would closely monitor the contractors handling the Road, from Warri in Delta State to Eket in Akwa Ibom State.

He explained that about 10km stretch of the road in Akwa Ibom had been given an asphalt overlay and expressed the belief that with the determination of the Ministry to facilitate early completion, a larger portion of the road would have been asphalted before June 2010.

Responding, the state Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, represented by his deputy, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu, congratulated Hon. Samuel Ode on his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic and commended the new leadership in the ministry for touring projects sites within a few weeks of coming into office.

Governor Akpabio who observed that the activities of militants had negatively affected the socio-economic activities in the region, noted that the initiatives of the Federal Government, which have resulted in relative peace in the region, were highly commendable.

He expressed the hope that “when the road is completed, the Federal Government would have impressed it upon the people of the region, that they are not forgotten” as the road, he noted, would bring great benefits to the people.

The governor said with the decision of the Federal Government to put the East-West road under the supervision of the Ministry of Niger Delta, coupled with the good intention and seriousness displayed by the Minister work would be expedited on the project.