Buhari commends Cross River Governor, Ayade on new projects

Buhari in Calabar

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commended the foresightedness of Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade over the construction of a 260km superhighway and a new deep seaport. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the superhighway Buhari expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to the signature of the project.

The road will link Calabar to Northern Nigeria, in Obung Village, Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State.

According to the president, the road will open a window of opportunity for the people of Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole, as well as reduce travel time.

He said “That I am here in person underscores the importance the Federal Government attaches to this. It is indeed a significant milestone in the economic and policy of the governor. “This is the first groundbreaking under my presidency. I commend Ayade and his team for their foresight in conceptualising this project.

“I want to assure you of the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure the completion of the project. I promise I will come back to commission it. I urge the governor to ensure work is done on it quickly.”

Speaking, the state governor expressed his gratitude to the president, adding that Buhari had shown example of good leadership, having shown up to do the groundbreaking of the project. As he put it, “Mr. President, you said you are for everyone and today you have proven this by your support for us. That is because given the circumstances of our nation and the politics, Cross River State would not have been worthy of being your first port of call. You have shown that you are truly a president.

“The ontological kinetics of the road started with the loss of oil wells, consequent on the loss of Bakassi. The state was reduced to want. It became imperative to reconstruct a new means of production and open a horizon to get teeming young men employed.

“The road will serve as an evacuation corridor for the new deep seaport. The seaport will have a draft of 14 metres and a key wall of 680 meters that will allow for all sizes of vessels to berth.”

The governor said some features of the road, which he described as digital, will include broadband internet connectivity, speed cameras and ambulatory services.