FG needs 30bn to complete East West road

The Federal Government needs N30 billion to complete the East West road project.

The Supervising Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Darius Ishaku, said this when he received members of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) sub committee on the East-West road.

Ishaku said in spite of the budgetary provision and funds from the African Development Bank (AfDB), there is a “gap” of

N30 billion still needed.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government obtained N50 billion from the AfDB for the project.

He reiterated the ministry’s plans to approach the Infrastructure Development Bank to ensure the completion of the project.

He commended the efforts of the Federal Government in securing funds from the SURE-P and called for regular disbursement.

He said that the ministry would strengthen its cooperation with the SURE-P to ensure the completion of the project.

NAN reports that the project, which was started in 2010, has a total contract sum of N349.9 billion.

NAN further reports that out of the money, N250 billion has been disbursed.

The 338-kilometre road stretches from Effurun in Delta to Oron in Akwa Ibom and cuts across four states in the Niger Delta region.

The design for the project has 42 bridges and 786 culverts, which are divided into five sections.

The ministry said the project was 70 per cent completed after an assessment of the level of work done by the contractors.(NAN)

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