By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has directed contractors handling key infrastructure projects across Calabar metropolis to accelerate the pace of work despite persistent rainfall, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to delivering quality projects on schedule.
The governor gave the directive on Wednesday during an inspection tour of ongoing road and drainage projects, including the Parliamentary Extension and the Cultural Centre, where he assessed the quality of work and reviewed progress at the various project sites.
Speaking after inspecting the Parliamentary Extension road, Governor Otu said he met with the contractor to ascertain his readiness to continue work despite the rainy season and urged him to expedite the project without compromising quality.
“I came to see the contractor on site and asked him whether he was still ready to continue despite the rains, and he said yes.
“By next week, we should be able to mobilise him sufficiently to complete the project.
“He has gone quite far, and from this point forward, we will continue to engage him to ensure the quality of the work is maintained,” the governor said.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of work already completed, noting that residents of the area had responded positively to the project, while assuring that the government would address any genuine concerns raised by the community.
Governor Otu attributed the flooding experienced in parts of the state to the growing impact of climate change, explaining that increasingly prolonged rainfall has significantly reduced the construction window available for road projects.
“It is very clear that climate change is affecting us. What used to be two distinct seasons now almost feels like one long rainy season, and that is creating serious challenges for road construction. But that will not stop us from delivering on our mandate,” he stated.
The governor revealed that the state government is exploring more resilient road construction materials capable of withstanding prolonged rainfall, adding that alternative chemical-based materials stronger than conventional asphalt are currently undergoing laboratory assessment.
“We have been carrying out research to see if we can get chemical substances that are more resilient and stronger than asphalt.
“Some are already in the laboratory because we must continue delivering durable infrastructure despite the changing weather conditions,” he said.
As part of the inspection, Governor Otu also visited major drainage channels across the metropolis to assess the causes of flooding, observing that some channels require expansion while others need comprehensive reconstruction to improve stormwater evacuation.
The governor equally inspected the ongoing renovation of the Cultural Centre, expressing concern over delays in the execution of the project and directing the contractor to accelerate work to ensure the facility is completed within the revised timeline.
Describing his administration as people-centred, Governor Otu said opening up communities through road infrastructure remains one of the quickest ways of improving livelihoods and stimulating economic activities across the state.
He added that, alongside infrastructure development, his administration has continued to prioritise security and agriculture as critical drivers of economic growth.
“We cannot stop building because of natural disasters. Where roads are damaged by heavy rains, we will repair them. Once we have favourable weather conditions, work will continue because our commitment is to deliver the dividends of good governance to our people,” the governor affirmed.
