By Emmanuel Ayungbe, Uyo
Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) is to dualize the Abak-Ikot Abasi road linking the East West road in Akwa Ibom state at the cost of N47 billion.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Mr. Nsima Ekere made the disclosure yesterday when leaders of Oro ethnic nationality paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Uyo.
Ekere revealed that the National Assembly Committee on Niger Delta Affairs has already approved N47 billion for the project.
Ekere also revealed that the commission has perfected plans to construct roads linking all coastal communities in Akwa Ibom, including Ibeno, Esit Eket, Eket and others.
His words, “In the last administration, NDDC approved the construction of the coastal roads in the country different from the East-West road.
“The coastal roads were to go through coastal cities because of the enormous cost of developing infrastructure along the coast. I believe that we can look at the proposal of creating a coastal road for Akwa Ibom state to link Oro nation, Ibeno, Esit Eket, Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo.
“NDDC will carry out the dualisation of Abak road all the way to Ikot Abasi to link with the East-West road. What NDDC is trying to do is that we will take that road from where it ended in Abak, the same standard that Julius Berger constructed, all the way into the East-West road. That project will cost N47 billion,” he said.
He said that the interventionist agency has also spent over N20 billion on power projects in the state, adding that the commission has executed and commissioned several road, water and school projects across the state.
The NDDC boss said the commission will give special attention to the development and wellbeing of oil producing communities in the state and called for the setting up of special statutory bodies to cater for the needs of oil-bearing areas in the country.
