29 January 2020
The Cross River State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Dane Osim-Asu, has said that the maintenance of potholes in Calabar, the state capital is a seasonal activity, which the government undertakes to add verve to the month-long Christmas festival in the state NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
Osim-Asu stated this at the monthly ministrial press briefing, organised by the state Ministry of Information and Orientation in Calabar on Tuesday.
He said that the ministry in the first four years of the present administration, was charged with the responsibility of addressing the issue of potholes and that the mandate was achieved satisfactorily.
'We were charged with the responsibility of ensuring that there were no potholes in the entire Calabar metropolis. I am sure you can attest to that within that period we took off. We accomplished that.
'The issue of potholes is a seasonal activity for the government of Ben Ayade, and any other government for that matter. We have the annual carnival events coming up every Christmas season. So, we usually keep this aspect of the maintenance of the city center within that period so that we can ensure that people coming into the city would find it clean and green, which is what the state is known for', he said.
Speaking further, the commissioner said that the ministry over the last four years, has keyed into the 'Food on the Table' philosophy of the Ayade-led administration by providing access roads across the state to stimulate local economy.
While highlighting the first term achievements of the state government in the area of infrastructure, Osim-Asu said that government focus this time would be on the completion of all projects initiated by the current administration, hence, the transposition in the maxim: 'Food on the Table, Hands on the Plow', cannot be overemphasized.
'In the last four years, we kicked off into humongous projects. We initiated the mini superhighway project which is in the northern part of the state – Mfum, Okpoma, Okuku, Abuochiche, and the Obudu ranch dual carriage way, which we have since commenced. We have completed the earth works and began asphalting from the Obudu end.
'We also stepped down the deep sea-port project, which is one of the signature projects of this administration. We have provided technical support to some of these projects, like the dualisation of the Odukpani road from Tinapa.', he explained.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the commissioner for information and orientation, Comrade Asu Okang, whose ministry hosted the press briefing, said the monthly press briefing by line ministries in the state was necessary so as to keep the public abreast with government policies and programmes.
He lauded the state governor for the massive infrastructural development across the state.
Also at the ministerial press briefing were the commissioner for health, Dr Betta Edu, who gave update on the current status of Lassa Fever in the state; Mr Eric Anderson, commissioner for culture and tourism, representative of Cross River State Commissioners Forum, Mr George Oben-etchi, who is also the commissioner for industry.
Others were the special adviser to the governor on media and publicity, Mr Christian Ita, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Mr Ayi Henshaw Jnr. and top officials in the ministry.
