Fed Gov’t Offers N20B Lifeline For Completion Of East-West Road

Indication has emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari has granted the request of the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to obtain N20B for the East-West Road.

READ ALSO: Hope Rises For Completion Of East-West Road

Information pieced from dependable sources said the fund is to be sourced from the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWI).

The East-West Road project was first awarded in 2006 by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration but driven by the Yar’Adua/ Jonathan administrations.

The project, a 657-kilometre dual carriageway, stretching from Calabar in Cross River State to Warri in Delta State, was, however, valued at N726 billion at the time and approved by the Federal Government at the height of agitations by youths in the Niger Delta.

The reported approval to release the N20B to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has however generated mixed reactions, coming at a time there is a probe of alleged massive mismanagement of funds at the NDDC under the supervision of the ministry.

Groups in the region have called on the ministry to make proper utilisation of the N20B to further the completion of the East-West Road.