The two projects were conceived in 2015 at the beginning of Governor Ben Ayade’s administration to boost the state’s economy, create employment and make the state less dependent on federation account.
But there is not much on ground to show and it seems the Ayade administration will end in May without delivering the two projects as promised.
The Guardian gathered that the seaport infrastructural work has not started, while the superhighway, after series of protests from impacted communities, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the international community, only bush clearance has been done.
NGOs, like Heinrich Boll Foundation, Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC) led by Mr. Odey Oyama, and Green Code led by Mr. Edem Edem, had, in a combined research work, submitted that the proposed 275km superhighway will duplicate the linkage of the existing Federal overnment highway to Katsina-Ala in Benue State and put the state in over 54 years of financial indebtedness. Besides the projects, according to them, will not be viable to the state, rather it will be a drainpipe.
In a chat with The Guardian at the weekend, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, said the state government had done so much to lift the state in the area of industries, saying: “For the deep seaport, we have gone very far, with the preferred bidder, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). We are at the state where the physical construction is to commence.
“And now they are at the financial closure state. So the process has been very fast for a major project of this nature. Remember that Lekki Deep Seaport took over two decades to be completed. Even Ibaka Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State was conceptualised by the administration of Obong Victor Attah. After three different administrations, physical construction is yet to commence. This is because huge projects of this nature involve a lot of approvals and processes.”
On the superhighway, he said: “Construction is ongoing in phases. However, construction only commenced about two years ago due to litigations and petitions by some Cross River citizens and their cohorts, who had vowed to stop the project, using environmental concerns as excuse.”
On the viability of the projects, Ayade had repeatedly said: “The projects will generate much revenue to the state as the road will serve as evacuation corridor for the new deep seaport. It will be the first to have broadband Internet wi-fi connectivity, speed cameras, ambulatory services and photology solar system while the seaport is going to be the deepest seaport in Africa with a draft of 16 metres and a key wall of 680 metres that will allow all sizes of vessels to berth.”
