President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, October 20, implemented a “ground-breaking” ceremony for the construction of African super highway designed to connect Nigeria with North Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony for the construction of highway in Obung community, Akamkpa Local Council of Cross River state, Buhari said that the road, which will take off from the proposed Ikang deep sea port, will serve as an opportunity for the people of Cross River state and Nigeria as a whole, The Guardian reports.
In his words: “I am here in person underscores the importance the Federal Government attaches to this. It is indeed a significant milestone in the economic policy of the governor.
“This is the first ground-breaking under my presidency. I commend Ayade and his team for their foresight in conceptualising this project and I want to assure you of the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure the completion of the project. I promise I will come back to commission it. I urge the governor to ensure work is done on it quickly.”
In his remarks, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state, extoled President Buhari for his presence at the ground-breaking ceremony.
He said: “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.”
“An Israeli and British firm, Spectrum is investing €500 million alongside an infrastructure bank under Public Private Partnership arrangement on the super highway.
“The ontological kinetics of the road started with the loss of oil wells, consequent on the loss of Bakassi. The state was reduced to want and it became imperative to reconstruct a new means of production and open a horizon to get teeming young men employed.
“The road will serve as an evacuation corridor for the new deep seaport. The seaport will have a draft of 14 metres a wall of 680 meters that will allow for all sizes of vessels to berth. The road will be the first to have broadband Internet connectivity, speed cameras, ambulatory services and photology solar system.”
“The Benue state governor had promised to construct a similar highway from Katsina-Ala junction, to its border with Nasarawa state. From there, the Nasarawa state government would then extend it to Abuja and gradually it would get to Chad, Egypt and Morocco.”
READ ALSO: We Are Waiting For Buhari’s Ministers Policies – US
With the ground-breaking ceremony concluded, the foundation stone for the first phase of the African super highway looks all wrapped up.
The highway will be designed to connect Nigeria with countries as far away as Egypt and Morocco when completed.
No comments:
Post a Comment