The House of Representatives has urged Federal Ministry of Work to ensure the commencement of the building of section v of the East West road.
It mandated the Committees on Works and Appropriation to make provision for the construction of the road to link Oron in Akwa Ibom State and Odukpani Calabar in Cross River State in the 2024 budget estimate.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved by Bassey Akiba, Mike Etaba, Alex Egbona,
Joseph Bassey, Emil Inyang, Victor Abang, Peter Akpanke and Godwin Offiong.
The House said the East-West road, a 388-kilometre federal trunk A2 dual carriageway connecting Niger Delta states and Ikom federal trunk A4 road, initially designed with 42 bridges and 1,000 culverts, was awarded at N246 billion in 2006.
It noted that the road was divided into five sections, Warri-Kaiama in Delta/Bayelsa State; Port Harcourt-Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa State; Eleme-Onne-Ete in Rivers/Akwa Ibom State and Ikot Abasi-Eket-Oron Road in Akwa Ibom/Cross River State.
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The House said sections I to IV of the road have reached 85 per cent completion, with the Federal Government releasing funds for a new bypass and other works.
This, it said, had increased the contract sum from N246 billion to N506 billion, with over 80 per cent of the funds already released.
The House was concerned that the building of section IV of the 30km dual carriageway from Oron to Calabar was
ongoing, despite contract awards from the Federal Government.
It said the road, which linked Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, was in poor condition, with potholes causing loss of lives and forcing commuters to travel by sea.
It said the construction of section v of the East-West road would address infrastructural deficit and enhance economic stability by facilitating the movement of goods.
The House added that the building of a new East-West road section was expected to alleviate the current six-hour journey time, which had increased fares in the region.