PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the African super highway designed to connect Nigeria with countries as far away as Egypt and Morocco when completed.
Laying the first building block of the project at Obung village in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State yesterday, President Buhari said project that would expand the economic frontiers of not just the state but the entire country. He added that the road would give access to markets in Chad, Niger and other parts of the region.
According to President Buhari, the initial 260km phase of the superhighway, would link Calabar with Benue and Rivers States. He added that the federal government would assist the Cross River State government to ensure completion of the road.
President Buhari said: “That I am personally here to perform the groundbreaking shows the importance my government attaches to this project which is a significant milestone in the economic development of not just Cross River State but the entire country. The road will open up a new vista of economic opportunities for Nigeria as it will bring multiplier effect to the economy and more importantly this is happening under my presidency.
"I assure my brother and governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, of my commitment and that of the federal government, to ensure its completion and that of the deep sea port."
Governor Ayade said the road would serve as an evacuation corridor for equipment, goods and personnel from the deep sea port in Bakassi in the southern part of the country, to the northern part of the country and would be completed between four and five years. He added that at present, it took between four and five hours to move from Calabar to Katsina-Ala, a border town between Cross River and Benue states, explaining that with the super-highway, it would take just one hour thirty minutes to make the journey.
According to the governor, the Bank of Infrastructure and several commercial banks had already put together €500m to fast-track the construction of the road. He added that the road would have digital Internet connectivity all through the 260km distance, speed cameras and toilet faculties, among other things.
Governor Ayade disclosed that the Benue State governor had promised to construct a similar highway from Katsina-Ala junction, to its border with Nasarawa State. He added that the Nasarawa State government would then extend it to Abuja and gradually it would get to Chad, Egypt and Morocco.
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