President Muhammadu Buhari
President
Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday defied a downpour to perform the
groundbreaking for the construction of the proposed 260-kilometre
Calabar-Ikom-Katsina-Ala superhighway and a deep sea port in Cross River
State.
Despite the rain, the President shunned
the helicopter in the Presidential fleet and rode on the deplorable road
from Calabar to Obun village, in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the
state, for the inauguration of the project.
The visit to Cross River was President
Buhari’s first working visit to any state in the country since his
assumption of office on May 29, 2015.
The President’s Nigerian Air Force
flight 5N-FGT touched the tarmac of the Margaret Ekpo International
Airport in Calabar at exactly 10am, but he could not use the helicopter
marked Air Force NAF-280 to the venue of the ceremony due to the heavy
rain.
Buhari,
however, got to the venue of the groundbreaking event at about 12.35pm,
while the helicopter flew in to wait ahead of his arrival when the rain
subsided.
The President and his entourage were
received at the airport by the state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, his
colleagues from Akwa Ibom and Imo states, Udom Emmanuel and Rochas
Okorocha respectively, and two former governors of Cross River State,
Mr. Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke.
Others were the senators representing
Cross River south, central and northern districts, Gershom Bassey, John
Enoh and Rita Oko respectively. Others were a former presidential aide,
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and a former chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Mr. Ekpo Okon.
Speaking shortly before unveiling the
project, Buhari, who was welcomed to the venue by a mammoth crowd
including the Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, and other
traditional rulers, said he would support the project and ensure that it
was completed.
Apart from providing job opportunities,
Buhari said the road would reduce travel time from Calabar to the
neighbouring Benue State and beyond by over four hours.
He said, “This 260-kilometre road is
intended to serve as an evacuation route and I understand that the
technical process for the deep seaport is ongoing. 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 from six to two hours.
“That I am here in person underscores
the importance that the Federal Government attaches to this. It is
indeed a significant milestone in the economic 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 ensuring the completion of the project. I
promise I will come back to commission it. I urge the governor to ensure
that work is done on it quickly.”
Earlier, Ayade, who commended President
Buhari for honouring the invitation to unveil the project, had said the
idea of the road and the deep sea port was meant to find a new means of
production after the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon and the subsequent
loss of 76 oil wells.
Ayade, however, solicited the support of
the Federal Government in the completion of the project, adding that
the state financial resources would not see the project through.
While promising that with commitment the
project could be completed within the next four or five years, Ayade
said already the state had received a 500m Euros facility from a foreign
financial institution as well as support from Skye Bank and Heritage
Bank to execute the project under a Public-Private-Partnership model.
He said, “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 to the loss of Bakassi.
The state was reduced to want. It became imperative to reconstruct a new
means of production and open a new horizon to get our teeming young men
employed.
“The road will serve as an evacuation
corridor for the new deep sea port. The sea port will have a draft of 14
metres and a key wall of 680 metres that will allow for all sizes of
vessels to berth. The road will be the first to have broadband Internet
connectivity, speed cameras, ambulance services, and photo solar system.
“It is your courage and encouragement
that will see us through. I know you will make it come to pass. We have
secured a 500m Euros facility from a financial institution in Israel. We
also have the support of Skye Bank and Heritage Bank under the PPP
model. It is our hope with the support given to us that the project will
become a reality.”
Earlier at the airport, Buhari had inspected the guard of honour mounted by personnel of the Navy, Army and Air force.
The President and his entourage later departed the venue of the ceremony with the Air Force helicopter at about 1.20pm.
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