Minister of Niger Delta Development (MNDD), Engr. Abubakar Momoh and the Governor of Cross River state, Senator Bassey Otu have named the lack of access roads as a major obstacle to the growth and advancement of the oil-rich region.
The observation was made in Calabar, when the Minister paid a courtesy call to the Governor, according to a statement by the ministry’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Chindaya Ahmadu on Saturday.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, His Rt. Hon Peter Odey decried the bad state of roads in the Niger Delta Region, saying the situation was making life unbearable for citizens especially farmers in the hinterland.
“We in the Niger Delta Region don’t enjoy the dividends of oil extraction from this region, Otu lamented.
Speaking earlier, the Minister who lamented that lack of access road was militating against the development of the region, called on the Governors of the region to collaborate with NDDC to move the region forward.
During an inspection at the University of Calabar, Momoh commended the quality of the 3 3-kilometer access road project executed within the campus.
The Minister said the quality of work on the roads was contrary to what he saw in Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Banku Obi applauded the Ministry and the Minister for the intervention.
“I am extremely happy for the access road project in the campus which before now was a big source of concern to both the students and the lecturers.
Other completed projects on the campus were the Town Hall Complex, and the 500-bed capacity Students Hotel, which was awarded in 2004 became an abandoned project. Similarly, he inspected an uncomplicated and abandoned internal road within the campus.
The Akim–Qua Community Road within the metropolitan City of Calabar was also inspected by the Minister. He rounded his project inspection by visiting the State Office of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development in Calabar.
