Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River has drawn the attention of the Federal Ministry of Works to the deplorable condition of federal roads in the state.
Imoke said this on Monday in Calabar when the Minister of State for Works, Mr Bashir Yuguda, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House.
He said that he made the call in view of the annual Calabar Carnival coming up in December, which often attracted tourists from all over the world to the state.
He particularly noted that the Odukpani-Itu road was becoming a nightmare to commuters travelling in and out of the state.
“We have collapsed infrastructure in the state; 90 per cent of our tourists come by road, which means that our road infrastructure needs attention,’’ he said.
The governor stressed the need for the expansion of the Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja road, the reconstruction of IBB Way in Calabar into a dual carriage way and the rehabilitation of Ikom-Obudu Ranch road.
He attributed the frequent collapse of some portions of the Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja road to pressures from heavy vehicles which conveyed cement and stones from Calabar and Akamkpa.
“With the loss of some of our oil wells, we have no other way than to seek alternative means of generating revenue through tourism but with these poor road infrastructure, we cannot deliver much, ‘’ he said.
Responding, the minister of state said that the ministry had given priority attention to the Odukpani road project, assuring the governor that work on the project would soon start.
“Odukpani road is one of our priority projects. Be ready for us to come and flag-off the road before the end of the year,’’ he said.
Yuguda assured the governor that as part of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda, the ministry would continue to collaborate with the state in efforts to develop its tourism potential.
