Calabar – The Cross River Government says it will abide by the regulations guiding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the course of its 260km super highway and deep sea port projects in the state.
Gov. Ben Ayade made the promise on Thursday in Calabar when the Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, paid him in a courtesy visit in his office.
Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, the governor said that the project would improve the economic profile of the state and those of the South-South and South-East region, when completed.
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Governor said that the project would serve as a window for imported goods into the country and improve the economic status of the state.
He said that the state government would replace all important trees and other components of the biodiversity in the forest that would be destroyed in the course of the road construction.
Ayade added that the visit of the Minister would afford her the opportunity to see things rather than depending on information from unreliable sources.
Speaking earlier, Mohammed said that she was in the state to inspect and interact with the communities where the ground breaking event of the super highway was done by President Muhammadu Buhari on Oct. 20, 2015.
Mohammed said that she would interact with the people of Ekuri community in Akampka Local Government Area that had earlier protested over the destruction of their farmlands.
“Our concern is that, Cross River should do the right thing and ensures that the issues raised by the communities are properly addressed.
“We need to address the concern of the people. It is important for the state to preserve its wildlife and forest conservation and the unique ecosystem,’’ she said.
She expressed the hope that her discussion with the state government and the visit to the projects site would put to rest divergent issues about the projects.
The Federal Ministry of Environment had given notice to the Cross River Government to stop work the proposed Super highway project.
The ministry in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Bukar Hassan, said the notice was in line with the environmental regulations and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes.
NAN reports that the Cross River Government registered for EIA of the proposed Super Highway project and is currently conducting the EIA studies which are at an advanced stage. (NAN)