The Federal Government has assured that the contractors handling the dualization of the Calabar-Itu Expressway will soon return to the site to resume work on the road that served as a link between Akwa Ibom State and Cross River.
Adebisi Osim, acting controller of works in Cross River, said this on Friday in Calabar when he received a political pressure group, the Cross River South Consultative Forum, in his office.
Osim said the resumption of work on the highway came after the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Public Works.
He said the Minister of Public Works, Dave Umahi, had addressed the issues that had paralyzed the progress of the road construction works.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the contractors, Julius Berger and Sematech, abandoned the site last year.
Ms Osim explained that in the meantime, emergency mitigation measures are being taken to reduce the suffering of road users on the route.
“I am pleased to announce that Julius Berger and Sematech are returning to site to resume work on both ends of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road.
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“The problems that hindered the execution of the contract have been resolved.
“Once the rains subside, both contractors will return to site to begin work simultaneously.
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“This is due to the particular priority attention that our boss, the Minister of Works, has given to the project, reinforced by the interest of Governor Bassey Otu, who has intervened to address the issue of compensation, which was an important factor.”
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had approved the variation of the cost of the Calabar-Itu road from N79.65 billion to N118.4 billion due to the prevailing cost of materials.
Umahi, who made the announcement, said the decision followed the approval by the Federal Executive Council of N42.4 billion as a variation to the project.