The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Cross River, Mr. Ankpo Edet, has said that the present government, led by Governor Bassey Otu, met an empty Treasury left by the previous administration.
The commissioner disclosed this at a press briefing in Calabar on Wednesday.
The previous administration was led by Ben Ayade, who served two terms of four years each as governor.
“The level of infrastructure decay we met on ground was such that I was confused as a commissioner when I went round Calabar upon resumption,” he said.
Despite inheriting decayed infrastructure and an empty treasury, Edet noted that the present administration has made significant strides in its urban renewal efforts.
He said numerous road projects are underway throughout the state, focusing particularly on the Calabar metropolis and surrounding areas.
“I am happy to announce that we have done a lot in rehabilitating most of these roads in spite of the Sen. Bassey Otu-led administration meeting empty treasury.
“Just like we had in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South, so were there several unmotorable roads in Cross River North and Cross River Central,” he said.
The minister, however, said that since the government was a continuum, the present administration would not abandon any of the road projects inherited from previous administrations.
“These projects are being carried out with taxpayers’ money and so, we will work on them and also not abandon any of those we are working on now.
The commissioner also mentioned that the government had embraced the use of concrete pavement in road construction across the state.
However, he noted that the majority of road projects were being undertaken by local contractors, to improve the local economy.
