The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N54 billion for the reconstruction of Odukpani Itu-Ikot Ekpene road linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this at the end of the FEC meeting held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He stated that the road would boost socio-economic activities and improve the performance of the economy by reducing journey time, the cost of doing business and also create more job opportunities.
“The Ministry of Power Works and Housing had just one memorandum it was for the award of the Odukpani Itu-Ikot Ekpene route linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River states with a spur to Ibede Itan, the road project was approved for award to messrs Julius Berger Plc.
“So we expect that all of the problems that have been associated with that road which was constructed for well over 40 years ago which has outgrown its design life and also its design capacity those problems will now be frontally responded to by the award of this contract.
“We will do the best to quickly mobilise the contractor to site with the onset of the rainy season and am sure that by this time next year, it will be a better story, a better journey time experience in that area of the country.
“So, this is consistent with the promise of the administration to improve the growth and the performance of the economy by reducing journey time, the cost of doing business and the ease of transport and so on and so forth and also create jobs that would arise from the period of construction,’’ Fashola said.
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