Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, yesterday said the state was ready for the visit, next week, of President Muhammadu Buhari, to the state. President Buhari is to perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the 260-kilometre Calabar- Kasina-Ala highway being undertaken by the state government. While inspecting a portion of the highway where work has already commenced at Nsan village, Akamkpa Local Government Area, the governor said the state was ready to play host to the President. He said he was humbled and challenged that the President believes and shares in his vision of embarking on the project, with the aim of boosting the state’s economy.
Ayade said: “I am excited, challenged and fulfilled that somebody as high as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could understand and share in my dreams and aspiration to create a super highway that will also create that harmony between the northern and southern part of Nigeria,” he stated.
The governor said because of the great premium his administration places on the signature project, work is ongoing in spite of the consistent rainfall being experienced in the state. Governor Ayade, who was accompanied on the inspection by officials of the government said: “We have started work on the road already. Given the amount of rainfall we are experiencing, what we have achieved so far is fantastic.
We expect that the President would be impressed when he gets here.” The governor also inspected the ongoing finishing work at the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC). The state government is embarking on a 260-kilometre super highway and a deep seaport expected to cost about N700 billion.
