Ayade Assures Of Timely Completion Of 147km Mfom-Obudu Road

EMMANUEL ULAYI

The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, has expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at the ongoing dualization of the 147km Mfom-Yala-Bekwarra-Obudu Ranch Road.

The road project which is being handled by Sydney Construction, stretches across the five local government areas in the Northern Senatorial District of the state. It is wholly being financed by the Cross River government.

Ayade who was in Yala Local Government Area of the state for the burial of the former Minister of Information and later Environment, Hon John Odey, used the opportunity to see the progress of work done at the Okuku- Igoli axis of the road.

“I am quite impressed and satisfied with the quality of work. The contractors, Sydney Group, are defying the rain to ensure that the job is done and I must commend them as they have really shown capacity while demonstrating patience and understanding with government,” the governor remarked.
While expressing shock that the rains were still heavy in November, Ayade assured that in three months time, the job target will be reached as the contractors have continued to work despite the heavy rains that threaten the ongoing project aimed at ameliorating the sufferings of the citizenry as well as other road users.
According to the Governor, “it is like doing the job twice. They have finished preparing this place, ready for stone base. Now, because of the heavy rain, they have to do another redressing, getting it ready yet again, which is another full earthworks, full compaction in readiness for stone base.”

He disclosed that although the state had no money to finance such project, he had no option than to give his commitment, using intellectual money to get it done as an appreciation for the overwhelming support he got from the electorate during the election that brought him to office as the governor.
“You can see that they (contractors) are already at Yala, they have crossed the Rice mill and by next week they will be at Okuku junction and start facing Okpoma,” Ayade intimated, adding that “the job is almost done and I am particularly impressed with the quality of work.”
The Governor enjoined the people of the Northern Senatorial District and the entire Cross Riverians to be patient, “for surely, the road will be done. There is no day you have driven through this road, during rain or no rain except for Christmas or national strike, that you will not see work going on here.”
Site manager of the construction group, Engr. Elias Kalouf, while offering an insight on the project explained that “we have started laying stone base from the beginning of Ogoja and this is followed with priming. In Obudu, we have started asphalting from the Army checkpoint.”
On why they chose not to do the job from end to end, Kalouf clarified that “here in Ogoja, the area is down. If you keep the latrite inside the town, it will make the place dirty especially now that it is still raining.”
He assured that Cross Riverians will begin to enjoy the road in three months time as the laying of stone base will be achieved from end to end in spite of the challenges posed by the rains.