Cross River begs Nigerian govt to fix Calabar-Uyo highway

October 21, 2024

The government of Cross River State has appealed to the federal government to expedite the reconstruction work on the Calabar-Uyo federal highway.

The Commissioner for Commerce, Abigail Duke Orok, made the appeal when she visited the Federal Controller of Works at his office in Calabar recently.

The condition of the federal highway that links Calabar to neighboring Akwa Ibom and nearby eastern states has remained deplorable for nearly 10 years. A journey that used to take one hour from Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, to Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, now takes a minimum of five hours.

The commissioner noted that the poor state of roads leading to the state’s capital has raised concerns among business operators and is negatively impacting the movement of goods and services in and out of the state, resulting in an astronomical increase in transportation costs.

The state government wants the federal government to address critical road infrastructure issues to encourage increased participation during this year’s International Trade Fair, scheduled for November, and Carnival Calabar in December.

“We appeal for palliative work to be carried out on key access roads to encourage maximum participation from our neighboring states and countries during the upcoming Trade Fair and Carnival.

“As we are aware, most access roads to Calabar are in a very deplorable state and practically impassable, particularly the Calabar-Uyo, Ikom-Obudu, Bekwarra-Vandekya axis of Ogoja, and the Akamkpa/Biase section of the Calabar-Ikom axis, to mention but a few,” Mrs. Orok stated.

In response, the State Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Adebisi Osim, acknowledged the concerns raised and promised to relay the message to the appropriate authorities.

She added that her office has been in touch with contractors working on those routes with the aim of ensuring the speedy completion of the various projects.

Cross River begs Nigerian govt to fix Calabar-Uyo highway

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Tinubu’s commitment to financial reforms worthwhile — Senator Lado

The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado Mohammed, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing financial reforms and emphasis on fiscal discipline are worthwhile and should be supported by all well-meaning Nigerians. He disclosed this during the screening of Ms Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, the newly appointed Director-General of the
Tinubu’s commitment to financial reforms worthwhile — Senator Lado

He disclosed this during the screening of Ms Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, the newly appointed Director-General of the National Pension Commission, PenCom, by the Senate.

This screening by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, he pointed out, in a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press, Information and Public Relations, in his office, Ememmaria Offiong, highlights President Tinubu’s unalloyed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s financial institutions, curbing leakages, and boosting revenue flows to accelerate national development.

“President Tinubu’s vision of appointing capable and highly qualified individuals to key positions in critical financial institutions remains central to his administration’s broader agenda of enhancing fiscal discipline.

“Under Ms Oloworaran’s leadership, PenCom is expected to further the administration’s objectives of ensuring financial transparency and accountability while safeguarding pension funds and advancing sustainable pension reforms for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Senator Lado stressed.

The special adviser also commended President Tinubu for the appointment of 21 nominees as commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC.

According to him, the nominees, who have also been screened by the Senate, when hopefully confirmed, would help to reassess revenue-sharing mechanisms and enhance revenue inflows into the national treasury, in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to foster equitable revenue allocation and economic growth.

He said: “President Tinubu’s selection of these highly qualified appointees underscores his commitment to ensuring that only competent individuals with the requisite expertise are entrusted with managing Nigeria’s critical financial institutions.

“Their leadership will be pivotal to improving revenue generation and allocation processes, thereby ensuring that public resources are managed efficiently and transparently for the benefit of all citizens.”

Senator Lado also stated that, as part of efforts to promote and facilitate productive engagement between the executive and the legislative arms of government, the Office of the Special Adviser is dedicated to ensuring healthy collaboration between both arms in advancing transparency, accountability and effective governance.

“As the nominees await Senate confirmation, the Office of the Special Adviser remains committed to fostering a constructive working relationship that ensures the swift legislative approval of executive nominees and the smooth implementation of government policies aimed at national development,” he reiterated.

Tinubu’s commitment to financial reforms worthwhile — Senator Lado