Wevole Ezin, Calabar
Cross River State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Pius Edet has disclosed that recent rehabilations and construction of roads in Calabar are done by the state government and not the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The Commissioner who stated this yesterday while briefing some newsmen in his office in Calabar also clarified that NDDC projects have nothing to do with a sitting senator whatsoever.
The Commissioner was reacting to claims that the recent construction of some roads, rehabilations and fixing of streets lights in Calabar Municipal was done by the present Senator representing Southern senatorial district of the state.
“All the senators that were in office when NDDC roads were done were never attributed to them. The roads done by the NDDC during now and after now is because Cross River State is a member of the Niger Delta Commission and those projects have nothing to do with a sitting senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
“So I want to say that the distinguish senator has not done any project, we are waiting to see the project that will be initiated by him and of cause we know that such project will be a constituency project.”
He said the state government has concluded plans to construct 10 extra roads in Calabar South local government area and rehabilations of roads already on going in other parts of the state.
The Commissioner who disclosed that he inherited a ministry with an empty treasury, said most of the projects were initiated through direct labour to minimized cost.
“We started with the rehabilitation of parliamentary road. It will interest you to know that we spent less than N50m to do an overlay based on direct labour and i can say if such money was given to a contractor, they wouldn’t have collected anything less than N200m.
“We moved to Watt market, remember how that place was, it was an eye sour before now and we spent less than N50m as well to lay asphalt right from the Police station down to the Watt market roundabout.
He further disclosed that the execution of the projects were made possible by means of a supplementary budget undertaking by the Senator Bassey Otu led administration owing to the empty treasury left by the previous administration.
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