Gôvernor Bassey Otu of Cross River has flagged off a 17km Boki East-West Road as part of the effort to boost local economy.
Flagging the road construction at Boki, on Friday, Otu, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, said the commencement of the construction was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to the people.
He said that the road project, which links the rural Boki to the Urban Boki axis, would start at Onitcha-Farm roundabout and terminate at Kataba Junction along Ikom-Obudu road.
He explained that the 17km represented the first phase of the road, which had been in the drawing board of the previous government of the state.
Otu underscored the conspicuous relevance of the road and pledged the government’s commitment to construct several roads across Boki local government area.
“This work is not going to stop here. I will come back here, not for flag off, not for supervision, but to commission this road.
“We should have the construction of this road in record time and other roads that are going to be done here in Boki local government area.
“During the campaign, I told you that this road would be done and today we are here to flag it off,’’ Otu said.
Meanwhile, stakeholders from Boki local government, who turned out en masse to witness the commencement of work, all applauded and acknowledged the viability of the road project when completed.
The LG Council Chairperson, Mrs Eti-Eka Nyiam, said; “This road will transform lives, open up our agricultural communities and make it easier for farmers to move their products.’’
She said that the road would also boost local trade, create jobs for the youths, attract new economic opportunities, and bring development and prosperity closer to the people.
Nyiam added that beyond economic benefits, the road would stands as a powerful symbol of unity as it connected communities, strengthening bonds, and showing that ‘’Boki is one big family with a future.
“When we stand together in peace and cooperation, no challenge will be beyond us.”
On his part, the lawmaker, representing Boki-2 State Constituency, Dr Hilary Bisong, commended Otu for the road construction.
He said that the 17km road might cost up to N10 billion and appealed to the governor to consider Boki-2 in the next phase of road construction,
