By Itam Offor
Members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation have applauded the State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his efforts in infrastructural development of the State.
The Lawmakers spoke in separate remarks during an interface with the Management team of the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure who appeared before them for the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Performance Review.
The Lawmakers noted that Governor Otu has constructed and rehabilitated so many roads within Calabar Metropolis and many others in the three Senatorial Districts as part of his People First agenda.
The Chairman of the Finance and Appropriation Committee Hon. Okon Nyong Owuna expressed joy at the Governor’s intervention in road construction;
“I thank His Excellency, Governor Otu for his commitment to road rehabilitation across the State. Over 100 projects have been completed while work is ongoing in many other ones. Road construction opens up interior villages and brings development and better life to the citizens” Owuna stated.
He promised that the Finance and Appropriation Committee will pay oversight visits to some of the roads under construction to assess the progress of work.
Also speaking, Hon. Martins Achado (Yala 2), commended the Governor for his intervention in road construction including Federal roads. He also commended the commissioner for works and Infrastructure for a thorough presentation of his ministry’s scorecard. He advised the management of the Ministry to ensure strict compliance to specifications on Federal roads to facilitate easy refund of money spent by the Federal Government.
On her part, the only female legislator in the 10th Assembly, Hon. Mercy Akpama(Yakurr 2) applauded the Governor for asphalting the premises of Security Agencies in the State as well as the use of indigenous contractors for most of the jobs.
Other Members of the Committee, including Hon. Omang Omang (Bekwara) Hon Samuel Neji (Ikom 2), Hon Bassey Bassey (Akpabuyo), Hon. Thomas Aruku (Ogoja) and Hon. Eyo Bassey Edet (Bakassi) all hailed Governor Otu’s dedication to improving the lives of Cross Riverians through good road networks and other interventions across the State.
The Lawmakers advised the Commissioner for Works to stay within approved budgetary provisions for direct labour jobs, uphold standards in road construction, ensure timely completion of jobs as well as thorough monitoring and evaluation.
Earlier, the Commissioner for works and Infrastructure, Engr. Pius Aikpo maintained that;
” the Ministry has delivered on its goals of providing standard infrastructure for the physical, social and economic transformation of the State”.
He listed 111 roads that the Governor has constructed or rehabilitated out of which 89 are 100 % completed and 22 under construction across the State including the emergency intervention and rehabilitation of roads to Security Formations premises in Calabar Metropolis, Unical Female Hostel Road as well as the Teachers Continuous Training Institute in Biase.
The Commissioner also emphasized his Ministry’s dedication to, “ensuring the delivery and maintainance of standard eco-friendly infrastructure for easy accessibility, flood Control Systems and provision of plants and technical services in line with global practices”.
Present at the event were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr Paul Bepeh, other Management Staff and the Clerk of the Assembly, Bar Catherine Ubi who serves as the Secretary of the Commitee
