By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
Mr John Owan-Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry says the Federal Government has released the first tranche of funds for the emergency reconstruction of the Ikom-Etomi-Agbokim Waterfalls Road in Cross River.
Owan-Enoh made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar on Thursday.
The minister said that the contractor handling the project was expected to return to site as soon as the rains reduced.
He further said that the funding followed an earlier engagement with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
Owan-Enoh said that the funding arrangement was concluded at a meeting attended by the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
According to him, the arrangement is that the project will be funded between September and December through the NDDC.
He said that the commission had fulfilled its part of the agreement by releasing funds to the contractor.
The minister described the road as critical to Cross River people, particularly farmers who depended on it to transport their produce to markets.
He stated that the road connected communities and provided access to the popular Agbokim Waterfalls, a tourist destination.
“As an indigene of the area, I will continue to monitor subsequent fund releases, and the contractor’s return to site.
“We must ensure that this arrangement translates into visible progress. I remain grateful to the President for this gesture”.
He also commended the NDDC for taking bold steps towards providing a better quality of life residents of the region.
